it was deserving

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was deserving" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct form would typically be "it was deserved" or "it deserved." Example: "The award was given to her because it was deserved after all her hard work."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Sport

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

"Guillermo [Pegasus Warning] and I first met in 1993 playing in Westchester All-County Jazz Band," says JKriv. "Flash forward to a year ago and I was asked to collaborate on a remix of 'Try So Hard.' I really was taken by the song and felt that it was deserving of its own release, with various remix treatments.

Vice

British Wrestling's chairman, Malcolm Morley, said he believed "very strongly" that it was deserving of all three places on offer.

The Guardian - Sport

The party was reportedly called off after the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino complained it was deserving of the exposure since it had put the cast and crew up at the hotel.

Forbes

"We thought it was deserving of a wide release because it was Brad Pitt in a gangster movie".

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

But it was deserved.

The Guardian - Sport

When Víctor Casadesús scored, it was deserved.

The Guardian - Sport

On the victory, Klopp had earlier said: "It was deserved.

Independent

The customer would say that if it was deserved".

The New York Times - Magazine

This win was hard, but it was deserved".

The Guardian - Sport

I don't even care if it was deserved or not".

The New York Times - Sports

"It was deserved - a good yellow card from [referee] Martin Atkinson.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When expressing that something was earned or merited, consider using phrases like "it was well-earned" or "it was justified" for a stronger impact.

Common error

Avoid using "deserving" in place of "deserved" as a past participle. "Deserving" is typically used as an adjective (e.g., a deserving candidate), while "deserved" is the correct past participle form of the verb 'deserve'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was deserving" functions as a subject complement, attempting to describe a quality or state of the subject ("it"). However, according to Ludwig AI, the phrase is not grammatically correct in standard written English. The correct usage would involve "deserved" as in "it was deserved."

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Sport

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was deserving" is considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI suggests using "it was deserved" or restructuring the sentence to "it deserved it" for grammatical accuracy. While the phrase attempts to convey that something was earned or justified, its incorrect usage undermines its effectiveness. The contexts where it appears are primarily in news, sports, and some scientific articles. Therefore, it's crucial to opt for the correct alternatives to maintain clarity and professionalism in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was merited

This alternative replaces "deserving" with "merited", offering a more formal and grammatically accepted substitute.

it was warranted

This option uses "warranted" instead of "deserving", conveying that the action or outcome was justified.

it was justified

Replacing "deserving" with "justified" indicates the action was fair and right.

it deserved it

This restructures the sentence to emphasize that something received its due, correcting the grammatical structure.

it had it coming

This idiom implies that the outcome was inevitable and deserved, often used in a negative context.

it was its due

This phrase indicates that something received what it was owed or entitled to, offering a more formal tone.

it was well-earned

This option emphasizes the effort or merit behind the outcome, suggesting it was rightly gained.

it earned it

A more concise way of saying something deserved the outcome based on its actions.

it had merited it

Similar to "it was merited" but emphasizes the action that led to the deserved outcome.

it had a right to it

This suggests that something had a legitimate claim or entitlement to the outcome.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say something earned a particular outcome?

The correct phrasing is typically "it was deserved" or "it deserved it". Avoid using "it was deserving" as it's grammatically incorrect.

What can I say instead of "it was deserving"?

You can use alternatives like "it was deserved", "it was merited", or "it was warranted" depending on the specific context.

Is "it was deserving" grammatically correct?

No, "it was deserving" is not grammatically correct in standard English. The proper form is "it was deserved".

How does the meaning change if I use "it was deserved" instead of "it was deserving"?

Using "it was deserved" ensures grammatical correctness and clarity, while "it was deserving" is considered an error and may confuse readers. The intended meaning remains the same, but the correct phrasing is crucial for effective communication.