it was expired

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was expired" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that something has come to the end of its period or validity, often referring to a license, permit, or document. For example, "He tried to use his driver's license, but it was expired".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

(It was expired, but as the waistband business demonstrates, this guy does not excel in attention to detail).

The New York Times

She told you that she could not take one of the coupons because it was expired.

Huffington Post

It was expired and she had ripped the UPC code out to get the rebate.

Huffington Post

You know that awful feeling you get when you throw away bacon, just because somebody named Oscar printed numbers on the package saying it was expired?

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Originally it was 49 years, and it was expiring in 2036.

The New York Times

Now it was expiring?

Los Angeles Times

It's expired and gone to meet its maker.

The Guardian

It has ceased to be! It's expired and gone to meet its maker!

Huffington Post

"Oops, it's expired!

The New Yorker

"If it feels like you're trying to squeeze something more out when it's expired then that's deathly, but they can work if they're a developing series that stays fresh," he said.

Independent

The virtual flow will be removed if it is expired.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "it was expired", ensure the context clearly indicates what "it" refers to. Be specific, especially in formal writing, to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "it was expired" when you mean something else, such as "it was exhausted" (meaning depleted) or "it was terminated" (meaning actively stopped). Choose the term that best reflects the reason for something no longer being valid.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was expired" functions as a descriptive statement, indicating that something had reached its expiration date. Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical correctness and usability of this phrase in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Science

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was expired" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to indicate that something has passed its expiration date, though Ludwig indicates it is not very common. While versatile across different contexts, the phrase finds primary use in News & Media, Wiki, and Scientific articles. Alternative expressions such as "it was no longer valid" or "it was out of date" can be used to provide further clarity or formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it had expired

Changes the tense to past perfect, emphasizing the completion of the expiration before another point in time.

it was past its expiration date

More explicitly states that the expiration date has passed.

it was no longer valid

Replaces "expired" with a more formal synonym, focusing on the lack of validity.

it was out of date

Uses a common idiom to indicate that something is no longer current or usable.

it was no longer in effect

Indicates that something is not currently active or operational.

it had lapsed

Implies a more formal termination, as of a membership or agreement.

it was invalid

Focuses on the legal or official status of being non-operational.

its validity had ended

More formal phrasing, emphasizing the termination of validity.

its term had ended

Focuses on the completion of a defined term or period.

it was deactivated

Suggests that the item was actively made inactive.

FAQs

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

You can use "it was expired" to describe something that is no longer valid because its period of use has ended. For example, "The coupon couldn't be used because "it was expired"".

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

Alternatives include phrases like "it was no longer valid", "it was out of date", or "it had lapsed", depending on the context.

Is "it was expired" grammatically correct?

Yes, "it was expired" is grammatically correct. It uses the past tense of the verb "to be" with the past participle of "expire" to indicate a state of having reached the end of its validity.

What's the difference between "it was expired" and "it had expired"?

"It was expired" describes the state of something being expired at a specific time. "It had expired" indicates that something expired before a certain point in the past. For example, "I didn't realize it was expired when I tried to use it" vs. "By the time I found it, it had expired".