it kept was

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it kept was" is not correct and not usable in written English.
It appears to be a grammatical error, as it combines two verbs in a way that does not make sense. Example: "It kept was unclear what the instructions were."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

One of New Labour's promises, which it kept, was to put a stop to this short-sighted policy, and between 1997 and 2010 an average of only 17 were sold each year.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

But it kept being mysterious.

The New York Times - Magazine

"It kept being described as an eyesore when it was in the square," Wallinger said yesterday.

The Guardian

But it kept being recommended to me and finally I bought it.

The Guardian - Books

It keeps being retouched.

The Guardian

"It keeps being brought up," he said.

The Guardian - Sport

He added: "As it keeps being missed, it is failing to reduce public concerns about immigration.

Independent

It gets bad and then it keeps being bad, because the stress doesn't go away.

The New Yorker

But now that it's over, it keeps being very difficult for me.

The Guardian

So why has this zombie idea — it keeps being killed, but it keeps coming back — taken such a powerful grip?

The Economist

It keeps being repeated and is still front and centre on Discovery's website.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "it kept was" in formal writing. Instead, opt for grammatically correct alternatives such as "it remained" or "it continued to be" to ensure clarity and accuracy.

Common error

A common mistake is mixing past tense ("kept") with another past tense form of "to be" ("was") incorrectly. Remember that "kept" often needs a gerund (e.g., "keeping") or a different verb construction for grammatical correctness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it kept was" is grammatically incorrect, as noted by Ludwig AI. It does not serve a standard grammatical function within English sentence structure.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

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News & Media

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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 kept was" is generally considered grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in formal writing. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. While it might appear in informal contexts, opting for alternatives like "it remained" or "it continued to be" ensures clarity and grammatical accuracy. Remember to pay attention to verb tenses to avoid similar errors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it remained

Replaces "kept was" with a single verb that suggests a state of continuation.

it continued to be

Expands the original phrase to provide a clearer and grammatically correct expression of continuity.

it persisted in being

Emphasizes the ongoing nature of a state or condition.

it used to be

Indicates a past state that is no longer true, offering a contrasting perspective.

it always was

Emphasizes that a state has been consistent over time.

it has always been

Similar to "it always was" but provides more emphasis using the present perfect tense.

it stayed

Replaces "kept was" with a verb indicating something remained in a particular state or condition.

it remained as

Indicates that something continued in a specific role or identity.

it sustained itself as

Emphasizes the ability of something to maintain its condition or identity over time.

it was consistently

Indicates a state that happened regularly or without variation.

FAQs

Why is "it kept was" considered grammatically incorrect?

The phrase "it kept was" "grammatically incorrect" because it combines a past tense verb ("kept") with another past tense form of "to be" ("was") without a clear grammatical connection. It's generally not standard English.

What are some alternatives to "it kept was" that I can use in my writing?

Depending on the intended meaning, you can use phrases like "it remained", "it continued to be", or "it always was". These provide grammatically sound ways to express similar ideas.

In what contexts might I encounter the phrase "it kept was", and should I use it?

While you might occasionally encounter "it kept was" in informal speech or writing, it is generally advisable to avoid using it in formal contexts. It may be perceived as a grammatical error.

How can I ensure my writing is grammatically correct when expressing continuous states or actions in the past?

Double-check your verb tenses and consider using alternative constructions that clearly convey your intended meaning. For instance, using "it remained" or "it continued to be" can help avoid grammatical errors.