it was agreement

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was agreement" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to convey that an agreement existed, but it lacks proper grammatical structure. Example: "After much discussion, it was clear that it was agreement among all parties involved."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

No. Instead, it was agreement on a bill to ban video voyeurism.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

It is agreement that is allusive not a format for discussion".

The Guardian

It is agreement to disagree in private and to accept in public there is only one government view.

The Guardian - Opinion

I think it was an agreement".

The Guardian - Sport

"We do not claim it was an agreement, but the file was finalized".

The New York Times

Neither country had been conquered; it was an agreement freely entered into.

Independent

It was that agreement, signed in 2005, that set the referendum in motion.

The New York Times

"It was mutual agreement," Andrew Rosenthal, the editorial page editor, said of the change.

The New York Times

It was the agreement that everyone wanted, yet no-one much liked.

The Guardian

It was in agreement with the reported data (Chawla and Amiji, 2002; Natarajan et al. 2011).

Journal of Analytical Science and Technology

It was in agreement with that of results available in the literature.

International Journal of Advanced Structural Engineering

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of using the grammatically incorrect phrase "it was agreement", opt for "there was an agreement" or "an agreement was reached" to ensure clarity and correctness.

Common error

A common mistake is using "it was agreement" because "agreement" is a noun and needs an article ("an"). The correct phrasing requires a subject that can 'be' something, like "it was a deal" or "there was an agreement".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was agreement" is intended to express the existence of a consensus or accord. However, grammatically, it functions incorrectly as the verb "was" requires a noun phrase after it (like "it was an agreement"). Ludwig AI identifies this as not correct in standard written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

8%

Encyclopedias

7%

Wiki

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it was agreement" is grammatically incorrect in standard English. Ludwig AI flags this issue, suggesting that "there was an agreement" or "it constituted an agreement" are more appropriate alternatives. While the intention is to convey consensus or accord, the phrase lacks proper grammatical structure. The most authoritative sources avoid this phrasing, opting for grammatically sound alternatives. Remember to use "there was an agreement" or "an agreement was reached" for clear, correct communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

there was agreement

Changes the sentence structure to use an existential "there was" construction, making it grammatically correct.

it was mutually agreed

Emphasizes the mutual nature of the agreement, highlighting that all parties were in accord.

an agreement was reached

Focuses on the act of reaching an agreement, implying a process and conclusion.

it was a consensus

Replaces "agreement" with "consensus", stressing a collective and unified opinion.

they were in agreement

Shifts the focus to the parties involved and their state of agreement.

it constituted an agreement

Suggests that something fulfilled the conditions of an agreement.

all parties concurred

Uses the verb "concurred" to indicate agreement, suitable for formal contexts.

there was accord

Replaces "agreement" with "accord", implying harmony and alignment.

it was understood

Indicates an implicit or unspoken agreement, focusing on shared understanding.

everyone was on the same page

Emphasizes a shared understanding and alignment of thoughts or plans.

FAQs

What's a grammatically correct alternative to "it was agreement"?

Instead of "it was agreement", use "there was an agreement" or "an agreement was reached". These options provide grammatical accuracy and clarity.

Is "it was agreement" ever considered acceptable in formal writing?

No, "it was agreement" is not considered acceptable in formal writing. It's grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in favor of more appropriate phrases like "it was mutually agreed".

How can I use "agreement" correctly in a sentence?

To use "agreement" correctly, frame it as "there was an agreement", or use it with verbs like "reach", "sign", or "come to". For example, "They reached an agreement".

What's the difference between saying "it was agreement" and "it was a consensus"?

"It was agreement" is grammatically incorrect. "It was a consensus" is grammatically correct and implies a collective, unified opinion, while "there was an agreement" refers to a formal or informal accord.