it was december

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was December" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate a specific time in the past, often to set the scene or provide context in storytelling or narrative writing. Example: "It was December, and the snow began to fall softly, covering the ground in a white blanket."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

It was December 20th 1981 and December 2011 marks thirty years of Dreamgirls and AIDS in America.

Huffington Post

It was December now.

The New Yorker

It was December, not January.

The New York Times

Sure, it was December.

The New York Times

It was December and it was cold.

The New York Times

It was December, and there was no heat.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

It was December 2009, and the site prompted all of its users to update their privacy settings.

TechCrunch

It was December 2016.

The New York Times

It was December 2011.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It was December 7 , 1917

The New York Times - Books

It was December 2 , 1990

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was december" to set a temporal context at the beginning of a sentence or paragraph, effectively anchoring the narrative in time. For instance, "It was December, and the city was preparing for the holidays."

Common error

Avoid starting multiple consecutive sentences with "it was december". Vary your sentence structure by occasionally using alternative phrases or rephrasing to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was december" primarily functions as a temporal clause, setting the scene or providing background information about when an event occurred. As Ludwig indicates, it's a grammatically sound way to introduce a time frame. Examples in Ludwig demonstrate its use in various narrative contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was december" serves as a common and grammatically correct way to establish a temporal context, often at the beginning of a narrative or descriptive passage. Ludwig confirms its usability in various writing styles, and the analysis indicates its prevalence in news and media sources. While versatile, it's important to avoid overuse and vary sentence structure to maintain reader engagement. The phrase sets a neutral tone, suitable for a broad audience, and effectively anchors the narrative in time.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that december

Uses a demonstrative adjective to point to a particular December.

december of that year

Clarifies that the December being referenced occurred in a specific year.

the month was december

Emphasizes the specific month as the subject, rather than a general time.

december marked

Replaces the introductory "it was" with a more direct statement about the month.

it happened in december

Focuses on an event occurring during a specific month.

december arrived

Uses a verb to suggest the coming of the month.

the time was december

Highlights the period as a whole, rather than the month's name.

december had come

Uses the past perfect to indicate the arrival of December prior to another event.

it being december

Uses a participial phrase to indicate the time period.

the calendar read december

Emphasizes the calendar as a way to introduce the month.

FAQs

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

Use "it was december" to introduce a setting or situation that occurred in December. For example, "It was December, and the snow was falling heavily."

What are some alternatives to "it was december"?

You can use phrases like "december marked", "the month was december", or "that december" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "it was december of 2024"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct to specify the year as in "it was december of 2024". This provides more specific context for the reader.

How does using "it was december" affect the tone of a sentence?

Using "it was december" often sets a nostalgic or descriptive tone, inviting the reader to imagine the atmosphere and conditions associated with that time of year.