it was existing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was existing" is not correct in standard written English.
It is generally not used because "existing" is a present participle and does not fit well with "was," which indicates past tense. An example of a correct usage could be: "The problem was existing for several years before it was addressed."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Being heavy like I was wasn't really living, it was existing.

HuffPost

The Office: An American Workplace sacked off any pretence it was existing within the confines of "reality" within the first two series, and so was free to pursue far more absurd directions.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

It felt like I was existing on the planet, but not living.

Huffington Post

This was a very simple kind of portrayal, but that's its brilliance and why it's existing in perpetuity for forty years".

Vice

This was a very simple kind of portrayal, but that's its brilliance and why it's existing in perpetuity for 40 years".

Vice

I don't know about its enforcement but the law is there, it is existing.

BMC Public Health

Whether it's existing in the traditional idea of the film industry, I don't know.

The Guardian - Film

"Whether it's existing policy or future policy," he said, "you can anticipate that will be challenged".

The New York Times

"We felt we had a moral obligation because it is existing technology," he said in a telephone interview on Sunday.

The New York Times

Still, it is existing gamers who will be buying on launch, and titles that look this good won't harm sales at all.

The Guardian - Tech

"In the long term, it's existing health care spending and Social Security that account for these huge deficits, and he hasn't addressed that issue yet".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "it was existing" in formal writing. Opt for more grammatically sound alternatives such as "it existed" or "it was present".

Common error

Using "existing" with "was" creates an awkward and grammatically incorrect phrasing. Instead, use the simple past tense "existed" to clearly indicate that something was present in the past.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was existing" attempts to function as a statement indicating the past presence or state of something. However, it is grammatically awkward and not standard English. As Ludwig AI indicates, "existing" is a present participle and does not fit well with "was", which indicates past tense.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was existing" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in standard English writing. As Ludwig AI points out, the combination of "was" with the present participle "existing" creates an awkward and non-idiomatic construction. Instead, opt for grammatically correct alternatives such as "it existed" or "it was present" to clearly convey the intended meaning. The lack of examples further underscores its infrequent and incorrect usage. Always prioritize grammatical accuracy and clarity in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it existed

Changes the tense and form of the verb to a simple past tense, which is grammatically correct.

it had existed

Uses the past perfect tense to indicate that something existed before a specific point in time.

it was present

Replaces "existing" with the adjective "present" to describe a state of being.

it had been there

Emphasizes the presence of something in a specific location over time.

it was in place

Suggests that something was established or ready for use.

it was around

Offers a more informal way to say something was present or available.

it was the case

Indicates that a certain situation or condition was true.

it obtained

A more formal and less common way to express that something was valid or in effect.

it prevailed

Implies that something was dominant or widespread at a particular time.

it was to be found

Suggests that something could be located or discovered.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "it was existing"?

The grammatically correct alternatives include "it existed" or "it was present", depending on the intended meaning.

Is "it was existing" grammatically correct?

No, "it was existing" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to use alternatives like "it existed".

When should I use "it existed" instead of "it was existing"?

Always use "it existed" instead of "it was existing" as the latter is grammatically incorrect. "It existed" is the simple past tense and clearly conveys that something was present in the past.

What does "it was existing" mean?

While the meaning might be understandable in context, "it was existing" is not standard English. To express the idea of something being present in the past, use "it existed" or "it was present".