it was getting late

USAGE SUMMARY

"it was getting late" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that the time is progressing and becoming later in the day or evening. Example: "They had been talking for hours, and it was getting late. John realized he should probably head home soon."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

Reading to him, Mrs. Ramsay notices that "it was getting late.

The New Yorker

It was getting late.

The New York Times

It was getting late now.

The New York Times - Magazine

It was getting late, and the crowd had thinned.

The New Yorker

It was getting late & the whole school seemed asleep.

The New Yorker

It was getting late, and the room was growing even colder.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

It's getting late.

The New York Times - Arts

It's getting late for Rodgers now.

The New York Times

O.K., honey, it's getting late here.

The New Yorker

It is getting late after the winery.

The New York Times - Travel

It's cold and it's getting late".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was getting late" to smoothly transition into a scene where characters need to make a decision based on the time, such as ending a meeting or starting a journey.

Common error

Avoid switching tenses abruptly. If you begin a narrative in the past tense, maintain that tense throughout the sentence. For instance, don't mix past and present: Incorrect: "It was getting late, and now I decide to leave". Correct: "It was getting late, so I decided to leave."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was getting late" functions as an adverbial phrase indicating the progression of time. Ludwig AI examples show it often introduces a consequence or decision made because of the lateness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Wiki

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was getting late" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to indicate the passage of time, often serving as a reason for a subsequent action or decision. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides numerous examples from reputable sources, predominantly in the News & Media category. While versatile, it's important to maintain tense consistency when using the phrase. Consider alternatives like "the hour was growing late" for more formal contexts. Common errors involve incorrect tense usage. By considering these guidelines, you can effectively use "it was getting late" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the hour was growing late

This alternative uses more formal language to indicate that the time is advancing.

the evening was advancing

This alternative suggests a more gradual progression of time during the evening.

the day was drawing to a close

This emphasizes the end of the day rather than just the lateness of the hour.

the night deepened

This alternative evokes a sense of the night becoming more advanced.

night was approaching

This highlights the impending arrival of night.

time was running out

This focuses on the limited amount of time remaining.

it was becoming nighttime

This directly states the transition to night.

the clock was ticking

This uses a metaphorical image to convey the passage of time.

it was nearing bedtime

This suggests that the lateness is approaching a typical bedtime.

the witching hour was approaching

This alludes to a specific late hour with superstitious connotations.

FAQs

How can I use "it was getting late" in a sentence?

"It was getting late" is often used to indicate that time is passing and that an event or activity needs to be concluded or changed. For example, "It was getting late, so we decided to head home".

What is a more formal way to say "it was getting late"?

A more formal alternative to "it was getting late" could be "the hour was growing late" or "the evening was advancing".

What are some similar phrases to "it was getting late"?

Similar phrases include "time was running out", "night was approaching", or "the day was drawing to a close".

Is there a difference between "it is getting late" and "it was getting late"?

"It is getting late" implies the situation is happening now, while "it was getting late" refers to a past situation. For example, "It is getting late, we should leave soon" versus "It was getting late, so we left".