it sank during

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it sank during" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an event where something submerged or went underwater at a specific time or during a particular occurrence. Example: "The ship was on its maiden voyage when it sank during a fierce storm."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

But the operator White Star Line and builder Harland & Wolff did not christen the ship before its maiden voyage when it sank during the night of April 14-15 after hitting an iceberg, leading to the loss of 1,517 lives.

Huffington Post

It sank during a 1968 storm.

The New York Times - Arts

It sank during the recession, only to surge above 100 a year ago when the government first offered tax incentives to spur sales.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

It sunk during a battle with the French in 1545.

BBC

The floor has a startling downward slant caused when its pilings sank during the 1906 earthquake.

The New York Times - Travel

(It sank after an explosion during the testing of a cavitating torpedo called Shkval, or Squall).

The Economist

Iridium is extremely rare in Earth's crust because it is a siderophile element, and therefore most of it travelled with the iron as it sank into Earth's core during planetary differentiation.

Wikipedia

It sank into an almost complete oblivion during the twentieth, when it was eclipsed by neopositivism.

SEP

It was sunk during a storm in 1972, while under tow; it was being delivered to a company in Taiwan as scrap.

The New Yorker

Edwin Hopkins was on the USS Oklahoma when it was sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

BBC

Admiral Lord West, a former First Sea Lord who was captain of HMS Ardent when it was sunk during the Falklands War and Professor Ed Galea who is Director of the Fire Safety Engineering Group at the University of Greenwich discuss what should happen when a ship is in danger of sinking.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it sank during", ensure the context clearly indicates what "it" refers to, especially if it's not immediately obvious. For example, specify "the ship" or "the stock price" before using the phrase.

Common error

Avoid assuming a direct causal relationship between the event and the sinking solely based on the "during" phrasing. Provide additional context to clarify the actual cause, as the sinking might be coincidental or due to other factors.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it sank during" functions as a verbal phrase indicating an action (sinking) that occurred within a specific timeframe. Ludwig AI indicates this phrase is grammatically correct and usable. The subject "it" refers to something that has submerged or failed.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Science

30%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it sank during" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to indicate that something submerged or failed within a specific period. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability across various contexts. While versatile, it's crucial to ensure clarity regarding the subject "it" and the relationship between the sinking and the specified timeframe. It is suitable for neutral to formal contexts, particularly in news, historical accounts, and scientific reports. Be mindful of potential causal misinterpretations and provide additional context when necessary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it submerged during

Replaces "sank" with a synonym, "submerged", maintaining the meaning of going underwater during a specific time.

it went down during

Uses the phrasal verb "went down" as a more informal substitute for "sank", still indicating submersion during an event.

it foundered in

Uses "foundered", suggesting a catastrophic sinking, during a specific time or event.

it was lost at sea during

Emphasizes the loss of something at sea, specifying the time of the sinking.

it was underwater at the time of

More descriptive, specifying the state of being underwater during a particular event.

it declined during

Shifts the context from physical sinking to a decline in performance or value over time.

it collapsed during

Similar to 'declined', collapse can relate to the physical or metaphorical nature of a sinking object.

it failed in

A less specific alternative, indicating failure during a period, but not necessarily submersion.

it diminished through

Describes a gradual reduction or decline over a period, rather than a sudden sinking.

it deteriorated amidst

Focuses on deterioration and the surrounding circumstances, implying a decline but not necessarily submersion.

FAQs

What does "it sank during" mean?

The phrase "it sank during" describes an event where something submerged or went underwater at a specific time or during a particular occurrence. For instance, "The ship was on its maiden voyage when "it sank during" a fierce storm".

What can I say instead of "it sank during"?

You can use alternatives like "it submerged during", "it went down during", or "it foundered in" depending on the context.

Is "it sank during" grammatically correct?

Yes, "it sank during" is grammatically correct. It uses the past tense of "sink" followed by the preposition "during" to indicate the timing of the event.

How to use "it sank during" in a sentence?

Use "it sank during" to describe something that submerged or failed at a specific point in time. For example, "The value of the company "it sank during" the economic recession".