it was draft

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was draft" is not correct in standard written English.
It seems to be an incomplete expression and may be intended to refer to a draft version of something, such as a document or plan. Example: "After reviewing the feedback, I realized it was draft and needed further revisions."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

After all, it was draft day and even the Houston Astros could dream big by picking Stanford pitcher Mark Appel at No. 1.

The New York Times - Sports

It seems it was draft night in his fantasy football league, and he needed a running back.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Published 35 years after it was drafted, the book retains its freshness.

The New York Times - Books

It was drafted together.

The Guardian

It was drafted drafted under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, which can be enforced militarily.

Independent

"It was as if it was drafted by an enemy of the state".

The Guardian

It was drafted in 1994 without disclaimers like "transgenic non-human animal" that are routine today.

The New York Times

MR CLEGG: The agreement was actually remarkable given how quickly it was drafted.

The Economist

It was drafted and led by politicians from the main center-right opposition People's Party.

The New York Times

"If you look at the Constitution, you see that it was drafted by people who were not little-'d' democrats".

The New Yorker

Starting in 2012, it was drafted to air on NBC (which owned G4), where it got larger audiences each year.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always clarify what "draft" refers to, either with an article (a/the) or by specifying "in draft form".

Common error

Avoid using "it was draft" without an article or clarifying phrase, as it is grammatically incorrect. Instead, use "it was a draft" or "it was in draft form".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was draft" functions as an incomplete predicate nominative. The subject is "it", "was" is the linking verb, but "draft" requires an article ("a" or "the") to function correctly as a noun or be part of a prepositional phrase like "in draft form". According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is not correct in standard written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was draft" is considered grammatically incorrect in standard written English. Ludwig AI suggests that it's an incomplete expression. To express the intended meaning—that something existed in a preliminary state—it is better to use "it was a draft" or "it was in draft form". The phrase appears rarely, primarily in News & Media contexts, but its incorrect usage makes it unsuitable for formal or professional communication. Always aim for grammatical accuracy and clarity by using the correct article or phrasing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was a draft

Adds the indefinite article "a" to create a grammatically correct phrase, indicating that something existed in preliminary form.

it was in draft form

Restructures the phrase to use the idiomatic expression "in draft form."

it was the draft

Uses the definite article "the" to specify that the subject was a certain draft.

the document was a draft

Rephrases the sentence to clarify that a specific document was in draft form.

the plan was a draft

Rephrases the sentence to clarify that a specific plan was in draft form.

it was being drafted

Changes the verb tense to passive progressive, indicating that something was in the process of being created in draft form.

it had been drafted

Changes the verb tense to past perfect passive, indicating that something was completed in the past in draft form.

it was outlined

Replaces "draft" with a synonym, suggesting a summary or plan was created.

it was sketched

Replaces "draft" with a synonym, suggesting a rough or preliminary design was created.

it was mapped out

Replaces "draft" with a synonym, suggesting a detailed plan was created.

FAQs

How to correct the phrase "it was draft"?

The phrase "it was draft" is grammatically incorrect. To correct it, use "it was "it was a draft"", or "it was in "it was in draft form"" depending on the intended meaning.

What does "it was draft" mean?

The phrase "it was draft" is not standard English, but it likely means to convey that something existed as a preliminary version or sketch. Use "it was a "it was a draft"" for better clarity.

Can I say "it was draft"?

No, "it was draft" is not grammatically correct. You should use phrases like "it was a "it was a draft"", or “it was in "it was in draft form"” instead.

What's the difference between "it was draft" and "it was a draft"?

"It was draft" is ungrammatical. "It was a "it was a draft"" is correct, indicating that something existed as a preliminary version. The article "a" is crucial for grammatical correctness.