it was ground

USAGE SUMMARY

"it was ground" is correct and usable in written English.
You could use this phrase to describe a physical action that took place, such as in the sentence, "The coffee beans were placed in the grinder, and it was ground into a fine powder."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

On the state of the party, Mr Burnham said he did not accept it was "ground zero", but Labour had lost its "emotional connection" with millions of people and needed to re-establish its reputation on the economy.

BBC

And when they did hit it, it was ground balls".

The New York Times - Sports

It was ground zero of the California establishment".

The New York Times

The Cleanup Darrell Harris, 49, has been sweeping trash near ground zero since before it was ground zero.

The New York Times

He made a name for himself in the Bay Area at a time, he said, when it was "ground zero for the consciousness revolution".

The New York Times - Arts

There is one building site that arrested me in the way these paintings do – and it was Ground Zero in New York.

The Guardian - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

"I wouldn't describe it as a restraining order as such, but it was ground-breaking.

Independent

His move to England in 1950 pre-dated the current trend, yet his journey was as unlikely as it was ground-breaking.

The Guardian - Sport

It was grounded in science.

The New Yorker

"It was ground-up designed for the iPad, not an adaption of a print magazine," says Stack, who founded Books.com in the early 1990s before he sold it to Barnes & Noble.

TechCrunch

It was explosively successful and then faded away just as quickly but for five years, it was ground-breaking.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a process where a substance is reduced to smaller particles, ensure that the verb choice accurately reflects the method used (e.g., "ground" for milling, "crushed" for compression).

Common error

Avoid using "it was ground" when a different process was actually used. For example, don't say "the metal was ground" if it was actually melted or dissolved.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was ground" functions as a passive construction, describing an action performed on a subject. This indicates that something underwent the process of grinding, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was ground" is a grammatically sound passive construction indicating that a substance has been reduced to smaller particles through grinding. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and usable in English. The phrase is commonly found in both scientific and news contexts, demonstrating its versatility. To ensure precise communication, avoid using it when another action (e.g., crushing, milling) was actually performed. Related alternatives include "it was milled" and "it was crushed". This analysis underscores the importance of accurate word choice in describing processes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was milled

Replaces "ground" with "milled", emphasizing the process of reducing something to fine particles, particularly grains or other solids.

it was crushed

Substitutes "ground" with "crushed", suggesting a more forceful compression to break something down.

it was pulverized

Replaces "ground" with "pulverized", indicating a thorough reduction to dust or powder.

it was powdered

Focuses on the result of the action, highlighting that something has been transformed into powder form.

it was shredded

Indicates something was torn into thin strips rather than reduced to smaller particles by grinding.

it was grated

Suggests a process of rubbing something against a rough surface to reduce it to small pieces.

it was comminuted

Replaces "ground" with a formal term, meaning it was reduced in particle size.

it was atomized

Implies the substance was reduced to tiny droplets or particles, often used in scientific contexts.

it was granulated

Highlights that the material was processed into granular form rather than a fine powder.

it was chipped

Suggests breaking something into smaller pieces using a sharp object.

FAQs

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

Use "it was ground" to describe a situation where something has been reduced to smaller particles by grinding. For example, "The coffee beans were roasted, and then "it was ground" into a fine powder."

What's the difference between "it was ground" and "it was crushed"?

"It was ground" implies a process of reducing something to smaller particles using friction or a grinding action. "It was crushed", on the other hand, suggests a more forceful compression that breaks something down. For example, seeds might be crushed for oil extraction, while coffee beans are ground for brewing.

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

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "it was milled", "it was pulverized", or "it was crushed" to express similar ideas.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "it was ground"?

The phrase "it was ground" is appropriate when you want to specify that a substance has been processed into smaller particles using a grinding action. This could refer to spices, grains, coffee beans, or other materials.