it was about reading

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was about reading" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing a topic or theme that revolves around the act of reading or literature. Example: "The book club meeting last night was enlightening; it was about reading and appreciating different genres."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

For me, in this case, it was about reading 'Glass Menagerie' and finding moments where we could expand from the script — be plastic — to create a physical world for the characters' emotions and tensions".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"It's about reading people.

The New York Times - Sports

"It's about reading body language," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

"It's about reading the guests," Amedi says.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It's not just about being quick, it's about reading the conditions".

The New York Times - Sports

"It was not just about being quick; it's about reading the conditions".

The New York Times - Sports

"It is not just about taking an animal's life, as very often I will not find a suitable cull animal, it is about reading woodland and understanding the behaviour of wild animals.

The Guardian

Unlike projects like Codecademy, the experience during the first lessons is not so much hands-on as it is about reading various articles about design and development and the basics of web typography.

TechCrunch

It's about reading the person who is causing the problem.

Vice

It's about reading your type of romance and finding people who enjoy the same stuff you do.

Huffington Post

This paper is about reading.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it was about reading", ensure the context clearly establishes what "it" refers to. This prevents ambiguity and makes your writing more precise.

Common error

Avoid using "it was about reading" as a vague, overarching statement. Be specific about what aspects of reading are relevant to the context to provide clarity and depth.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was about reading" primarily functions as a predicate nominative, where 'reading' renames or describes the subject 'it'. This construction emphasizes that reading is the central activity or theme being discussed. Ludwig AI confirms this with its analysis of real-world examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was about reading" serves to highlight reading as the central theme or activity in a specific context. While grammatically sound and confirmed by Ludwig AI as a correct expression, its usage is relatively rare, primarily appearing in news and media outlets and, to a lesser extent, in scientific publications. When using the phrase, ensure clarity by explicitly defining the referent of "it" and avoiding vague applications. For alternative expressions, consider "the focus was reading" or "it revolved around reading" to convey similar meanings with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the focus was reading

Replaces "it was about" with "the focus was", emphasizing the central element.

the main thing was reading

Substitutes "it was about" with "the main thing was", highlighting the primary action.

it revolved around reading

Replaces "it was about" with "it revolved around", indicating the central theme.

reading was the key

Changes the structure to emphasize reading as the pivotal element.

it centered on reading

Uses "centered on" instead of "was about", conveying a similar meaning of focus.

reading played a central role

Emphasizes the importance of reading by stating its central role.

the point was to read

Shifts the emphasis to the act of reading as the intended goal.

the intention was reading

Highlights the original purpose as being aligned with reading.

the core aspect was reading

Uses "core aspect" to underline the fundamental nature of reading.

reading was the heart of it

Emphasizes the centrality of reading using a metaphorical expression.

FAQs

How can I use "it was about reading" in a sentence?

Use "it was about reading" to indicate that the primary focus or subject of discussion involved the act of reading. For example, "The assignment wasn't just about writing a paper; "it was about reading" critically."

What are some alternatives to "it was about reading"?

Alternatives include "the focus was reading", "it revolved around reading", or "the main thing was reading", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "it was about reading" grammatically correct?

Yes, "it was about reading" is grammatically correct. It uses the past tense of the verb "to be" followed by "about" and a gerund (reading), which is a standard English construction.

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

"It was about reading" is suitable when describing a past event, situation, or task where reading played a central role. For instance, describing a book club meeting or a research assignment.