it was about art

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was about art" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing a topic, event, or piece of work that centers around the theme of art. Example: "The documentary was fascinating; it was about art and its impact on society."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

It was about art.

The Guardian

My life wasn't about money -- it was about art".

The New York Times - Magazine

(Always more about money and PR than it was about art or design, this episode sits uncomfortably with the rest of the show.

The Guardian - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

"It's about art and commerce.

The Guardian

It is about art, literature, revolution and inconsequence.

The Guardian

(It's about art, sex and drugs, he muses, but "I was only involved in art").

The Economist

It's about art and dreams--and P.S. 1 is very strong in art and dreams".

The New Yorker

It's about art for art's sake, with no commercial interest.

The Guardian - Music

"For once," Mr. Partilla added, "it's about art imitating life".

The New York Times - Style

The biennial is always, at some level, as much about art-world politics as it is about art.

The New York Times

It brings to town cream-of-the-cream loans of Charles Willson Peale, George Caleb Bingham, John Singer Sargent, Thomas Eakins, William Merritt Chase, George Bellows, et al. It's about art, beyond illustration.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it was about art", ensure the context clearly indicates what "it" refers to. This prevents ambiguity and ensures the sentence is easily understood.

Common error

Avoid using "it was about art" without clearly establishing what "it" represents. Ensure the subject is explicitly mentioned in the preceding context to maintain clarity and avoid confusion.

Linguistic Context

Predicative Complement: The phrase "it was about art" functions as a predicative complement, providing information about the subject ("it"). It describes the essence or theme of the subject, as confirmed by Ludwig AI's analysis of various sentence structures.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it was about art" is a grammatically sound and generally acceptable way to express that a subject or topic is centered on art. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is most frequently found in news and media contexts. While versatile, it's important to ensure clarity by explicitly defining what "it" refers to and to consider more formal alternatives for academic or professional writing. Remember, while "it was about art" is useful for general descriptions, more specific language can often provide greater precision and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

art was its focus

Changes the structure to emphasize art as the central subject.

it revolved around art

Uses "revolved around" to indicate that art was the core element.

art formed its essence

Emphasizes art as being fundamental to the subject.

its theme was art

Highlights 'art' as the central theme instead of using 'about'.

the subject was art

Directly states 'art' as the subject matter.

art lay at its heart

Emphasizes that art was the core concept, using a more figurative expression.

it centered on art

Replaces "was about" with "centered on", maintaining a similar meaning.

art constituted its core

Uses 'constituted its core' to express that art was fundamental.

its purpose was artistic

Focuses on the artistic intention behind the subject.

art served as its basis

Highlights 'art' as the underlying foundation.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "it was about art" to sound more sophisticated?

Consider alternatives such as "art formed its essence", "its theme was art", or "art lay at its heart" for a more refined expression. Each alternative emphasizes the centrality of art in a slightly different way.

Is "it was about art" too simple for academic writing?

While grammatically correct, "it was about art" might be too informal for academic contexts. More formal options include phrases like "art formed its essence" or "the subject was art".

What is the difference between saying "it was about art" and "it was art"?

"It was about art" indicates the subject concerned or related to art, while "it was art" implies that the subject is art itself, or a piece of art. The choice depends on whether you're describing a topic related to art or identifying something as art.

In what contexts is "it was about art" most appropriate?

This phrase is appropriate in general contexts, such as describing a movie, a book, or an event where art plays a central role. However, consider more specific language when possible for clarity. For example, "the exhibition focused on art".