it was a suspect

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was a suspect" is not correct in standard English usage.
The correct expression would typically be "he was a suspect" or "she was a suspect" when referring to a person. Example: "After reviewing the evidence, the police determined that he was a suspect in the case."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

It was a suspect practice.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Its biotransformation products have toxic effects on aquatic organisms, and it is a suspect as a carcinogen for the human body [24].

International Nano Letters

It's a suspect pedigree, but it's all I've got.

The New York Times - Arts

The roman clef, the novel with real people in it, is a suspect literary form.

The New York Times - Magazine

Symptoms will then be fed to the classification module to determine whether it is a suspected Ebola case.

F1000Research

Ohio inspectors will test the water if it is a suspected source and if it is from a private well or other private supply.

Environmental Health Perspectives

It was a tad suspect from the beginning.

Huffington Post

From the start Norris Jr was a suspect and it is alleged his father used his influence to protect him.

The Guardian

I suspect it was a disembowelment.

The New Yorker

I suspect it was a ploy.

The New York Times - Sports

Many suspect it was a revenge killing.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "it was a suspect" in formal writing. Instead, rephrase to use correct grammatical structures like "he was a suspect" (if referring to a person) or "it seemed suspicious" (if referring to a situation or object).

Common error

Do not use "it" as a pronoun for a person who is suspected of something. Use "he" or "she" if the person's gender is known, or rephrase the sentence to avoid the pronoun altogether. For instance, instead of saying "it was a suspect", specify "he was a suspect" or "she was a suspect".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was a suspect" functions as a statement, attempting to identify or categorize something as suspicious. However, it is grammatically unconventional. Ludwig AI highlights the grammatical issues and suggests more standard phrasing.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was a suspect" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. While there are a few examples in the provided data, it is advised to use more standard phrasing like "he/she was a suspect" (when referring to a person) or alternatives like "it seemed suspicious" or "it raised suspicion" (when referring to a situation or object). Ludwig AI emphasizes the importance of grammatical correctness, suggesting the provided examples reflect non-standard usage and advises caution when employing this phrase. Prioritize clarity and accuracy by adopting conventional grammatical structures.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it seemed suspicious

Focuses on the appearance of being questionable rather than directly labeling something as a suspect.

it appeared dubious

Highlights the uncertainty or lack of credibility in something.

it raised suspicion

Emphasizes the action of causing doubt or mistrust.

it felt questionable

Indicates a subjective sense of unease or uncertainty.

it seemed fishy

Uses informal language to convey a sense of something being wrong or dishonest.

it was considered dubious

Indicates a formal assessment of something as questionable or doubtful.

it was thought questionable

Highlights that something was viewed with uncertainty by a group.

it looked suspicious

Focuses on the visual impression of something being untrustworthy.

it sounded dubious

Emphasizes the auditory impression of something being untrustworthy.

it struck me as odd

Expresses a personal feeling of something being strange or unusual.

FAQs

What's grammatically wrong with the phrase "it was a suspect"?

The phrase "it was a suspect" is grammatically incorrect because "suspect" functions as a noun or adjective, not a subject that "it" can refer to. To properly use "suspect", you would need to say "he was a suspect" or "she was a suspect" if referring to a person, or rephrase the sentence entirely.

How can I rephrase "it was a suspect" to sound more natural?

Instead of "it was a suspect", you can use phrases like "it seemed suspicious", "it raised suspicion", or, if referring to a person, "he/she was a suspect".

Is "it was a suspect" ever correct to use?

While you might find the phrase "it was a suspect" in informal contexts, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. Strive for more precise and grammatically sound alternatives.

What are some alternatives to "it was a suspect" that convey doubt or uncertainty?

Consider using alternatives such as "it appeared dubious", "it felt questionable", or "it looked suspicious" to express doubt or uncertainty about a situation or thing.