it was foregone

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was foregone" is not correct in standard English usage.
The correct expression is "it was a foregone conclusion," which means that something was certain to happen or was predictable. Example: "Given the team's performance throughout the season, it was a foregone conclusion that they would win the championship."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

So perhaps it was foregone conclusion that I'd wind up at Jerusalem Pizza.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Hallucinogens were imbibed, Captain Beefheart records were studied, some washing was foregone and schroomadealica was born.

The Guardian - Music

Re-evaluation was foregone, but this indication group will be kept under close scrutiny during further clinical development.

Drugs and Aging

"We need reassurance that it can deliver the benefits intended and that those benefits are greater than those of other transport schemes - whether in the department's project pipeline or not - which may be foregone," it said.

BBC

Labor has said it wants to scrap the tax but won't commit to ditch it until it sees modelling of the true amount of revenue that would be foregone, as it claims the measure cannot raise $540m because the tax is deterring holidaymakers from coming to Australia.

The Guardian

"The fundamental conclusions of a Lehrman-Grant commission to consider a gold standard may be foregone: We're for it," Mr. Grant wrote in the latest issue of his publication.

The New York Times

33 However, our Bamako scheme is unusual in that it provides a small monetary compensation to counteract what would otherwise be foregone revenue for the traditional healer.

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

That is, the opportunity cost of the disinvestments were assessed and it was felt that the benefit gain of these programs could be foregone in view of meeting the organization's budget requirements.

BMC Health Services Research

The IPA says "although it is highly likely that infrastructure construction employees would be otherwise assigned to works for other projects in Victoria and elsewhere, it is assumed that the 6,000 jobs specifically for the East-West Link project would be foregone upon a change of government at the federal level".

The Guardian

"In consequence, large sums in penalties have been foregone," Avaaz states.

The Guardian

If the show does nothing but reward military-style wits and agility, the winners are foregone.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the correct and widely accepted phrase "it was a foregone conclusion" instead of "it was foregone" to ensure clarity and grammatical accuracy.

Common error

Do not omit the article "a" and the noun "conclusion" when expressing that something was predetermined. Saying "it was foregone" is grammatically incorrect and can confuse readers.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was foregone" functions incorrectly as a predicate adjective. It attempts to describe the state of something as predetermined but misses essential components of the standard idiom. As Ludwig AI explains, the correct phrase is "it was a foregone conclusion."

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was foregone" is grammatically incorrect in standard English. The correct and widely accepted idiom is "it was a foregone conclusion", which means something was certain to happen. While some sources may use the incorrect phrase, as observed by Ludwig AI, it's crucial to adhere to proper grammar for clarity and effective communication. Use alternatives like "it was inevitable" or "it was predetermined" if you want to vary your expression, but avoid "it was foregone" in formal or professional writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was a foregone conclusion

The standard correct phrase. It's more idiomatic.

it was a certainty

Replaces "foregone" with "certainty", focusing on the assured nature of the event.

it was inevitable

Emphasizes the unavoidable nature of the outcome, rather than its predictability.

it was predetermined

Highlights that the result was decided in advance, removing any element of chance.

the result was assured

Highlights the guaranteed nature of the result, similar to "certainty".

it was bound to occur

Similar to 'inevitable', emphasizing the unavoidable occurrence.

the outcome was already decided

Focuses on the decision-making aspect, indicating a lack of genuine choice.

it was destined to happen

Adds a sense of fate or preordained destiny.

the writing was on the wall

Idiomatic expression indicating clear signs that pointed to the inevitable outcome.

the die was cast

Highlights the irreversible nature of the decision, with the outcome sealed.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say something was already determined?

The correct idiom is "it was a foregone conclusion". This phrase accurately conveys that the outcome was certain.

Is it grammatically correct to say "it was foregone"?

No, the phrase "it was foregone" is grammatically incorrect. The standard English expression is "it was a foregone conclusion".

What can I say instead of "it was foregone conclusion"?

You can use alternatives like "it was inevitable", "it was predetermined", or "it was a certainty" depending on the specific context.

What's the difference between "it was foregone" and "it was a foregone conclusion"?

"It was foregone" is grammatically incorrect. "It was a foregone conclusion" is the correct idiom and signifies that something was certain to happen.