it is was

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it is was" is not correct and usable in written English.
It appears to be a grammatical error, as "is" and "was" cannot be used together in this way. Example: "It is was a mistake to assume he would come."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

44 human-written examples

Arguably, with its wicked blend of forensics and fraternal dark humor, it is (was) the best cop show on TV.

Huffington Post

It is — was — an identity.

The New York Times

"But it is!" was the young man's reply.

The New Yorker

But what if it is was only 10%?

The Guardian

When it came to color, the big news, such as it is, was matte.

The New York Times

Those who cared about me asked if it is was safe.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

16 human-written examples

It is being discontinued.

Independent

It is being reformed.

The Economist

"It is being addressed".

The New York Times

It's was tough!

Unicef

"It's being interdependent".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When you intend to use a past tense, ensure you use "it was". If you want to express a present state, use "it is". Avoid combining them to maintain grammatical accuracy.

Common error

Avoid blending present and past tenses incorrectly. If you start a sentence in the present, continue in the present. For example, instead of saying "it is was", choose either "it is" or "it was" depending on the context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it is was" represents a grammatical error, blending present and past tenses inappropriately. This combination does not conform to standard English syntax. As Ludwig AI explains, this phrase is not considered correct in written English.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it is was" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in writing and speech. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase combines present and past tenses inappropriately, leading to confusion. Instead, use "it is" for present tense or "it was" for past tense. Alternatives such as "it has been" or "it used to be" may also be suitable depending on the context. Because of its incorrectness, you should avoid using "it is was" in any formal setting.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was

Corrects the tense to past simple, indicating something happened or existed in the past.

it is

Corrects the tense to present simple, indicating something exists or is currently true.

it has been

Uses the present perfect tense, indicating something started in the past and continues to the present or has relevance to the present.

it had been

Uses the past perfect tense, indicating something happened before another event in the past.

it used to be

Indicates something was true or existed in the past but is no longer true now.

it will be

Uses the future simple tense, indicating something will happen or exist in the future.

it is going to be

Expresses a future intention or prediction.

that was

Similar to "it was" but can be used for a more distant subject.

that is

Similar to "it is" but can be used for a more distant subject.

the situation was

Specifies that you are talking about the situation and puts it in the past.

FAQs

Is "it is was" grammatically correct?

No, "it is was" is not grammatically correct. The correct options are either "it is", for the present tense, or "it was", for the past tense.

How to avoid using "it is was" in my writing?

To avoid using "it is was", make sure you are clear about the time frame you are referring to. If you are talking about something in the present, use "it is". If you are talking about something in the past, use "it was".

What does "it is was" actually mean?

The phrase "it is was" does not have a clear meaning because it combines present and past tenses incorrectly. Depending on what you want to say, use either "it is" or "it was".

What can I say instead of "it is was"?

Depending on the context, you can use "it is" if you are referring to the present or "it was" if you are referring to the past. Alternatives like "it has been" or "it used to be" might also be appropriate.