it was everyone

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was everyone" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a situation or event where all individuals involved were included or responsible. Example: "When the project failed, it was everyone who contributed to the oversight."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

50 human-written examples

Only three years ago, Metzner says, "it was everyone for themselves.

Los Angeles Times

It was everyone I could think of.

Independent

It was everyone else's fault?

The New Yorker

It was, everyone said, a grand feast.

The New York Times

It was everyone, unequivocally, helping each other.

The New York Times

"It was everyone at the right time.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

10 human-written examples

It is, everyone agrees, totally conventional; that is its purpose.

Harvard University

It's everyone else.

The New Yorker

It's everyone's.

The New York Times

Now it's everyone.

The Washington Post

It is everyone's business.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it was everyone", ensure the context clearly defines who "everyone" refers to, avoiding ambiguity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "it was everyone" without specifying the group you are referring to. For clarity, provide context such as "it was everyone in the team" rather than assuming the reader knows who "everyone" is.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was everyone" functions as a statement indicating collective involvement or impact. Ludwig AI shows examples where this phrase introduces a situation or action affecting a defined group.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

0.5%

Reference

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it was everyone" is a grammatically correct phrase used to indicate collective involvement or impact. According to Ludwig AI, its frequency is uncommon, and it primarily appears in news and media contexts. To improve clarity, specify the group you are referring to. Alternatives include phrases like "everyone was involved" or "all were included". It's deemed correct and usable in written English. Remember to contextualize who "everyone" refers to in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

everyone was involved

Focuses on the participation aspect, highlighting that all individuals took part.

all were included

Emphasizes the inclusiveness of the group in a specific activity or situation.

the entire group participated

Highlights the collective participation of the whole group.

each person was part of it

Focuses on individual inclusion in a broader context.

it concerned everybody

Shifts the focus to the shared relevance or impact on all individuals.

it applied to all

Indicates a rule, situation, or condition that affects every person.

every single person

Stresses the individual nature of everyone involved.

the responsibility was collective

Highlights that the duty belonged to the group considered as a whole.

nobody was excluded

Focuses on the absence of any exceptions in the inclusion.

it was a universal experience

Implies a shared event or feeling among all present.

FAQs

What does "it was everyone" mean?

The phrase "it was everyone" indicates that all the people or members of a group were involved in something or affected by something. It emphasizes collective participation or impact.

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

You can use "it was everyone" when you want to express that a situation, action, or feeling applied to all the people present or part of a defined group. For example, "When the news broke, "everyone was shocked"."

Which is correct, "it was everyone" or "it were everyone"?

"It was everyone" is the correct form. "It" is a singular pronoun, so it takes the singular verb "was". The phrase "it were everyone" is grammatically incorrect.

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

Alternatives include phrases like "all were involved", "the entire group participated", or "each person was part of it". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.