it was examining

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was examining" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing an action that was taking place in the past, particularly in contexts involving investigation or analysis. Example: "The scientist noted that it was examining the samples under the microscope for any signs of contamination."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The bank released a statement after the ruling saying it was examining its legal options.

The New York Times

That decision came on the heels of a Monday statement from the California State Teachers Retirement System that it was examining its $751.4 million investment in Cerberus, appearing to raise the prospect of a sale.

Huffington Post

Satyam's auditor, PricewaterhouseCoopers, which has audited the company since its NYSE listing, said it was "examining" Mr. Raju's statement and could not comment further.

The New York Times

However, the company said it was examining the files of all of its employees at its Tylenol manufacturing and distribution sites.

The New York Times

The Australian competition and consumer commission asked Apple for an explanation and said it was examining any breach of its consumer laws.

The Guardian - Tech

Quindell also said it was examining, with the help of its auditors, how it recorded some of its past acquisitions.

The Guardian - Business

Yet another firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers, was censured by the Securities and Exchange Commission for permitting its auditors to own stock in the companies it was examining.

The New York Times - Magazine

Is Conducting Kmart Inquiry The F.B.I., working with the United States attorney in Detroit, said it was examining Kmart's records to determine whether its activities warranted criminal charges.

The New York Times

J-PAL was not studying the mills themselves — there are too few to randomize — but it was examining the agronomic training that TechnoServe offered its clients.

The New Yorker

Earlier this week, the DUP said it was examining whether to pursue legal action against its exclusion from the debates.

BBC

The EIB said that although it was examining the ombudsman's ruling and had noted its recommendations, it still had no plans to release the internal report.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it was examining", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being examined and why. Specify the object of examination to provide clarity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "it was examining" without specifying what "it" refers to or what is being examined. Always provide clear context to prevent ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was examining" functions as a verb phrase in the past continuous tense. According to Ludwig AI, this indicates an ongoing action in the past where something was being investigated or analyzed. The phrase typically requires a direct object to specify what was being examined.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was examining" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe an ongoing act of investigation or review in the past. According to Ludwig AI, its most frequent use is within news and media. When using this phrase, ensure that the object of examination is clearly specified. While the phrase itself carries a neutral tone, its level of formality can be influenced by the surrounding context. Alternatives such as "it was investigating" or "it was reviewing" may be more appropriate depending on the specific shade of meaning you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was investigating

Replaces "examining" with "investigating", implying a more formal or in-depth inquiry.

it was reviewing

Substitutes "examining" with "reviewing", suggesting a more evaluative or critical assessment.

it was analyzing

Uses "analyzing" instead of "examining", indicating a more detailed and systematic study.

it was inspecting

Employs "inspecting", which suggests a closer, more detailed look, often for specific issues.

it was scrutinizing

Replaces "examining" with "scrutinizing", implying a very careful and critical examination.

it was considering

Uses "considering" instead of "examining", suggesting that something is being thought about or taken into account.

it was assessing

Substitutes "examining" with "assessing", indicating an evaluation of the value or quality of something.

it was exploring

Replaces "examining" with "exploring", suggesting an open-ended inquiry to discover more information.

it was studying

Uses "studying" instead of "examining", indicating a systematic and detailed investigation of a subject.

it was looking into

Replaces "examining" with the phrasal verb "looking into", suggesting an informal investigation.

FAQs

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

Use "it was examining" to describe a past action of investigation or analysis. For example, "The committee said "it was examining" the evidence carefully."

What are some alternatives to "it was examining"?

You can use alternatives like "it was investigating", "it was reviewing", or "it was analyzing" depending on the context.

Is "it was examining" formal or informal?

"It was examining" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. The level of formality depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and sentence structure.

What's the difference between "it was examining" and "it was investigating"?

While similar, "it was examining" suggests a general review or inspection, whereas "it was investigating" implies a more formal or detailed inquiry, often in response to a specific problem or allegation.