it was confusing

USAGE SUMMARY

"it was confusing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to convey that something was not clear or easy to understand. For example: "The instructions were hard to follow; it was confusing".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Lifestyle

Sports

Arts

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

It was confusing.

The New York Times

"But it was confusing.

The Guardian

"It was confusing from the start.

Independent

"It was confusing on many levels".

The New York Times

It was confusing in the beginning.

The New York Times - Travel

It was confusing as a child.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"It was confusing to me," she said.

The New York Times

It was confusing being caught between two cultures.

The Guardian - Books

We all loved them equally, so it was confusing.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It was confusing to be told by the state organization that it's right".

The New York Times

(Melanie, moved to Austin in 1997) "It was cold, it was confusing, it was foreign.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was confusing" when describing situations, instructions, or explanations that lacked clarity and caused difficulty in understanding. Ensure the context clearly identifies what specifically was confusing.

Common error

Avoid placing modifiers too far from what they modify. For example, instead of saying "It was confusing reading the instructions", say "Reading the instructions was confusing" or "The instructions were confusing to read".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was confusing" functions as a subjective assessment, expressing a personal experience of difficulty in understanding something. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

20%

Lifestyle

10%

Less common in

Sports

7%

Arts

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it was confusing" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase for expressing a lack of understanding. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, demonstrating its frequent occurrence in diverse contexts, including News & Media and Science. While suitable for both formal and informal communication, it's essential to ensure clarity regarding what specifically was confusing. Consider alternatives like "it was perplexing" or "it was unclear" for nuanced expression. Avoiding misplaced modifiers will enhance clarity and prevent misinterpretations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was perplexing

Highlights the puzzling and baffling nature of something.

it was bewildering

Emphasizes the disorientation and confusion caused by something.

it was baffling

Focuses on the incomprehensible or inexplicable aspect of something.

it was unclear

Directly states the lack of clarity or definition.

it was ambiguous

Highlights the multiple possible interpretations of something.

it was vague

Emphasizes the lack of precision or detail.

it was obscure

Focuses on the hidden or concealed nature of something.

it was incomprehensible

Highlights the inability to understand something.

it was unintelligible

Emphasizes the lack of understandable meaning in something.

it was hard to understand

States the difficulty in comprehending something.

FAQs

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

You can use "it was confusing" to describe something that lacked clarity or was difficult to understand. For example, "The plot of the movie was convoluted; "it was confusing" to follow".

What are some alternatives to saying "it was confusing"?

Alternatives include "it was perplexing", "it was bewildering", or "it was unclear", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "it was confusing"?

Yes, "it was confusing" is grammatically correct and commonly used in English. It uses the past tense of the verb "to be" with an adjective describing a state of being.

What's the difference between "it was confusing" and "I was confused"?

"It was confusing" describes something that inherently lacks clarity, while "I was confused" describes your personal state of mind. For example, "The explanation "it was confusing"" versus "I was confused by the explanation".