it was heartbroken

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was heartbroken" is not correct in standard English.
The correct form would be "it was heartbroken" if referring to a person or entity experiencing heartbreak, but it is typically used as "I was heartbroken" or "she was heartbroken." Example: "After hearing the news, it was heartbroken to see how much pain he was in."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

In its first statement since Friday, the National Rifle Association said it was "heartbroken" by the attack.

BBC

The university released a statement saying that it was "heartbroken".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"It's a serious crime and there's no doubt it's very disappointing – I was heartbroken by it," Jackman told reporters in Sydney today.

The Guardian - Film

It's heartbroken and hopeful, a potent emotional cocktail if there ever was one.

Vice

"I think I was heartbroken".

The Guardian

"I have to tell you I'm disappointed, and to put it very bluntly, I'm heartbroken," Mr. Wang said.

The New York Times

It happens if I'm heartbroken, or scared, or basically in any doubt about my me-ness.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"But I think it's outrageous and I'm heartbroken.

BBC

Gillian couldn't help it: she was heartbroken.

The New Yorker

The Cowell family said it is "heartbroken" over the death of their "beloved" mother.

Independent

A sample letter: "I was very excited when I heard that Sandman was coming out as an e-book, but was heartbroken when it was announced that I and my kids won't have it on our readers".

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "it was heartbroken" to describe an entity's feelings. Instead, use a more appropriate phrasing such as "I was heartbroken" or "she was heartbroken", depending on the subject.

Common error

Using "it" to express emotional states like heartbreak is generally incorrect. Ensure the subject aligns with a person or entity capable of feeling emotions. "It" is typically used for inanimate objects or situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was heartbroken" functions as a declarative statement, attempting to describe a state of emotional distress. However, according to Ludwig AI, this phrasing is not grammatically correct in standard English. The correct usage typically involves a personal subject such as "I", "he", or "she".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "it was heartbroken" appears in some contexts, particularly in news media, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI confirms that standard English usage prefers constructions like "I was heartbroken", "he was heartbroken", or "she was heartbroken". The intended meaning is to express deep sadness or disappointment, but proper subject-verb agreement is essential for clear and correct communication. Therefore, it's best to avoid this phrase and use more grammatically sound alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he was heartbroken

Changes the subject to a masculine pronoun.

she was heartbroken

Changes the subject to a feminine pronoun.

i was heartbroken

Changes the subject to the first-person pronoun.

they were heartbroken

Changes the subject to a plural pronoun.

he felt heartbroken

Replaces 'was' with 'felt' and retains the same meaning of experiencing heartbreak, but with a slightly different verb.

she felt heartbroken

Replaces 'was' with 'felt' and retains the same meaning of experiencing heartbreak, but with a slightly different verb.

i felt heartbroken

Replaces 'was' with 'felt' and retains the same meaning of experiencing heartbreak, but with a slightly different verb.

they felt heartbroken

Replaces 'was' with 'felt' and retains the same meaning of experiencing heartbreak, but with a slightly different verb.

it was devastating

Uses a different adjective with a similar meaning but broader scope.

it was crushing

Employs a more figurative adjective to express intense disappointment.

FAQs

How should I correctly express that something made me feel heartbroken?

Use the phrase "I was heartbroken" to express your personal feeling of sadness or disappointment. For example: "I was heartbroken when I heard the news".

Is it ever correct to say "it was heartbroken"?

No, "it was heartbroken" is not grammatically correct. Use alternatives like "I was heartbroken", "he was heartbroken", or "she was heartbroken" depending on who experienced the heartbreak.

What are some alternative ways to describe a feeling of intense sadness?

Instead of saying "I was heartbroken", you could say "I felt "devastated"", "I felt crushed", or "I was filled with sorrow".

What's the difference between "I was heartbroken" and "I was sad"?

"I was heartbroken" implies a deeper and more intense feeling of sadness, often associated with loss or disappointment in a relationship or significant event. "I was sad" is a more general expression of unhappiness.