it was fascinating to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was fascinating to" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to express a feeling or experience of finding something interesting or captivating. Example: "It was fascinating to learn about the history of ancient civilizations in my history class."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It was fascinating to watch.

The New York Times - Magazine

It was fascinating to see.

The New York Times - Magazine

"It was fascinating to see him blossom.

The New Yorker

It was fascinating to research the 1980s.

The Guardian - Books

It was fascinating to watch them go through the clothes.

The New York Times

Also, it was fascinating to be among these objects again.

The New York Times

It was fascinating to hear more about Mary Mendy.

The Guardian

Renton says it was fascinating to work with the Spalls.

The Guardian

It was fascinating to see his process and handwritten notes.

The Guardian

Yet it was fascinating to hear this curiosity.

The Guardian - Music

It was fascinating to see the way in which the arrows went in both directions.

University of California, Berkeley

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To make the phrase even more impactful, follow it with specific details about what made the experience so captivating. For example: "It was fascinating to see how quickly students were helping each other".

Common error

While "it was fascinating to" is widely accepted, avoid overusing it in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for more precise and descriptive language to convey your observations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was fascinating to" functions as an introductory expression to convey a subjective experience of finding something highly interesting or captivating. It sets the stage for describing what aspect of the experience was particularly engaging, as seen in Ludwig AI and its examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

71%

Academia

12%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Science

4%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was fascinating to" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to convey a sense of captivation and deep interest. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and common usage across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While versatile, it's best to avoid overuse in highly formal writing, opting for more specific and descriptive language instead. When using the phrase, follow it with details to enhance the impact, but avoid overuse in formal academic contexts. By providing practical alternatives and addressing common usage errors, this guide helps writers effectively use "it was fascinating to" to express genuine captivation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

i found it fascinating to

Adds "I found", making it more personal but retaining the core meaning.

it was intriguing to

Replaces "fascinating" with "intriguing", suggesting something that piques curiosity.

it was captivating to

Uses "captivating" instead of "fascinating", emphasizing the ability to hold one's attention.

it was enthralling to

Employs "enthralling" to highlight the captivating and spellbinding nature of the experience.

i was intrigued by

Shifts the focus slightly to the feeling of intrigue while preserving the overall sentiment.

it was interesting to

Replaces "fascinating" with "interesting", a more general term for something that holds attention.

it was compelling to

Highlights the persuasive and irresistible nature of the experience.

it was stimulating to

Suggests that the experience provoked thought and excitement.

i was captivated by

Emphasizes the captivating nature of the experience from a personal perspective.

it was absorbing to

Indicates that the experience fully occupied one's attention and interest.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "it was fascinating to"?

You can use alternatives like "it was intriguing to", "it was captivating to", or "it was interesting to" depending on the context.

How can I make my sentence more specific after saying "it was fascinating to"?

Follow the phrase with a specific detail or explanation of what you found fascinating. For example, instead of just saying "It was fascinating to watch", specify "It was fascinating to watch how the artist blended colors to create such depth".

Is "it was fascinating to" suitable for formal writing?

While generally acceptable, in highly formal contexts, consider using more precise language that directly conveys your observation or analysis without explicitly stating your personal fascination. For example, instead of "It was fascinating to observe the experiment's results", you could say "The experiment's results revealed [specific observation]".

What's the difference between "it was fascinating to see" and "it was interesting to see"?

"It was fascinating to see" implies a deeper level of captivation and intrigue than "it was interesting to see". "Fascinating" suggests something remarkable or unusually captivating, while "interesting" simply means it held your attention.