it spent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it spent" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to mean "it used up/consumed/wasted," for example: "The family it spent their savings on a vacation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It spent its life in the street.

The New York Times

But mostly it spent its time in the basement.

The New York Times - Books

It spent years building its business in China.

The Economist

It spent most of its life in the water rarely if ever coming on shore.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

It spent the next year making its detour to Venus.

The New Yorker

It spent approximately 44 s in its path.

Journal of the Brazilian Computer Society

It spent approximately 1 minute in its path.

Journal of the Brazilian Computer Society

How was it spent?

The New York Times

It spent 81 years with one owner.

The New York Times

Q | What is it spent on?

Independent

Last year alone it spent $278m.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it spent", ensure the pronoun "it" clearly refers to a specific noun to avoid ambiguity. For example, instead of "It spent all day raining", use "The day spent itself raining".

Common error

Avoid using "it spent" to refer to people. "Spend" is generally used for time, money, or resources, not for describing how a person exists in a place. For people, use "lived" or "stayed" instead of "spent".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it spent" functions as a clause element where "it" is a pronoun acting as the subject, and "spent" is the verb in the simple past tense. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Science

24%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it spent" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to describe how a subject utilized or allocated resources in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's correct and versatile. While applicable across various contexts, it appears most commonly in news and media, science, and wiki-based sources. Remember to ensure the subject "it" is clearly defined and that the use of "spent" aligns with the intended meaning of resource allocation or consumption. Avoid applying it to people; rather, reserve it for things like time, money or other abstract entities.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it allocated

Focuses on the distribution or designation of something for a specific purpose.

it devoted

Emphasizes dedication or commitment of time or resources to something.

it dedicated

Similar to "devoted" but can also imply setting something aside for a specific purpose.

it consumed

Highlights the act of using something up completely.

it utilized

Stresses the practical and effective use of something.

it employed

Indicates the use of something, often in a strategic or deliberate manner.

it invested

Focuses on putting resources into something with the expectation of future benefit.

it applied

Highlights the practical use of something, often a method or technique.

it exercised

Suggests the use of power, authority, or a skill.

it directed

Implies guiding or channeling resources or efforts toward a specific goal.

FAQs

How can I use "it spent" in a sentence?

Use "it spent" to describe how something used time, money, or effort. For example, "The company it spent millions on research and development" or "The project it spent a significant amount of time in the planning phase".

What does "it spent" mean?

"It spent" indicates that a subject (represented by "it") consumed, used, or allocated a resource such as time, money, or energy.

What are some alternatives to "it spent"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "it allocated", "it devoted", or "it utilized".

Is "it spent" grammatically correct?

Yes, "it spent" is grammatically correct when "it" refers to a singular noun and "spent" is used as the past tense of "spend". Make sure that the subject can logically "spend" something, like time or money.