it was again

USAGE SUMMARY

'it was again' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You could use it when referring to something that had happened before. For example, "We had been to the restaurant before, and it was again just as delicious."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It was again awarded the Gloucester Cup in March 2013, for its proficiency the previous year.

Wikipedia

It was again yesterday.

Independent

There it was again.

The New York Times

Then it was again.

The New Yorker

And it was again today.

The New York Times - Sports

But, it was again, an amazing experience.

Princeton University

It was again all about the process.

The New York Times - Sports

And so it was again Sunday.

The New York Times - Sports

So it was again here Monday.

The New York Times - Sports

And so it was again.

The Guardian - Sport

There it was again: It's only money.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was again" to emphasize the cyclical nature of an event or situation. This works best when the prior occurrence is already known or implied in the context.

Common error

Avoid using "it was again" in simple narratives where a straightforward sequence of events is sufficient. Overusing it can make your writing sound repetitive or overly dramatic. Instead, use simpler transitional phrases or rephrase the sentence for better clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was again" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate that an action or state is repeating. Ludwig confirms its usage in diverse contexts to denote recurrence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Academia

22%

Encyclopedias

12%

Less common in

Science

10%

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it was again" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to denote the recurrence of an event or situation. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase appears across a variety of sources, most commonly in news and media, academic writing and encyclopedias. While its usage is generally neutral, it is important to avoid overuse to prevent redundancy. When writing, consider alternative phrases such as "it happened again" or "it reoccurred" to add variety to your text. Overall, "it was again" is a versatile phrase to add recurrence and emphasis to your text.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it happened again

Replaces "was" with "happened" to focus on the event's recurrence.

it recurred

Uses a single verb to indicate that something happened more than once.

it happened once more

Emphasizes that the event occurred an additional time.

it repeated itself

Focuses on the event being a direct repetition of a previous occurrence.

it returned

Highlights the idea of something coming back to a prior state or condition.

it was repeated

Similar meaning, but employs a passive voice.

it reoccurred

A more formal synonym for "happened again".

once again it was

Inverts the phrase for a different emphasis while retaining the core meaning.

it came back

Replaces "was again" with a phrasal verb indicating a return.

it arose anew

More literary, focusing on the fresh emergence of something.

FAQs

How can I use "it was again" in a sentence?

Use "it was again" to show that something has happened in the same way as before. For instance, "The team struggled in the second half, and "it was again" their poor defense that let them down".

What are some alternatives to using "it was again"?

You can use alternatives such as "it happened again", "it reoccurred", or "it returned" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "it was again" suitable for formal writing?

Yes, "it was again" is suitable for formal writing. However, ensure that the context warrants its use and that it is not repetitive. More formal synonyms like "it reoccurred" may be preferred in certain academic or professional contexts.

What's the difference between "it was again" and "it was once again"?

"It was again" and "it was once again" are very similar. "It was once again" emphasizes the repetition more strongly, adding a sense of continuation or resumption. In most cases, they are interchangeable.