it was hitting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was hitting" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an action that was occurring in the past, often in a context where something is impacting or affecting someone or something. Example: "As the storm approached, it was hitting the coast with strong winds and heavy rain."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

The training ministry wanted to show the Treasury it was hitting its targets, and badging established training was the easiest way to do that.

The Guardian

At the start of the year Royal Mail said it was hitting its targets, but with a backlog caused by the postal strikes taking time to clear, and fresh strikes planned for 22 and 23 October, it remains to be seen how well the service will hold up in the midst of industrial action.

The Guardian - Money

The book would bounce back with writer Kathryn Immonen and artist Sara Pichelli, but by then it had lost readers, the series was cancelled just as it was hitting its stride again.

Vice

Russia flatly claimed it was hitting only IS, despite its own data and images contradicting this, before eventually saying it was targeting "terrorists", a blanket term used by Assad's government to refer to all armed opposition groups. .

Vice

At the time that the company confirmed its funding round, our sources told us it was hitting around $100 million in funds raised through campaigns every month.

TechCrunch

It was hitting me.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

It was hit or miss.

The New York Times

After that, it was hit and miss.

The New York Times - Arts

But it was hit hard enough.

The Economist

It was hit after hit".

The Guardian - Music

Well, it was hit by a rocket, you see".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure the subject of "it" is clear in your writing to avoid ambiguity; make sure the reader knows what "it" refers to.

Common error

Avoid using "hitting" in overly abstract contexts where a more precise verb would be more suitable. For example, instead of saying "the news was hitting people hard", consider "the news affected people deeply".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was hitting" functions as a verb phrase in the past continuous tense, describing an ongoing action or state. Ludwig AI confirms its usability. The word "hitting" serves as the main verb, indicating the act of impacting or affecting something.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Sport

24%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Science

4%

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was hitting" is grammatically sound and commonly used, particularly in news and sports contexts to describe an ongoing impact or effect. Ludwig AI provides various examples demonstrating its correct usage. While versatile, consider stronger synonyms for clarity, especially in abstract contexts. Remember to ensure the referent of "it" is clear and to avoid overly vague applications. The phrase shows a neutral register, making it suitable for a variety of writing styles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was impacting

Uses the continuous form of 'impact' to maintain a similar tense and meaning.

it impacted

Replaces 'hitting' with a synonym emphasizing the effect or influence.

it was affecting

Emphasizes the ongoing influence, similar to the continuous tense of "it was hitting".

it struck

Substitutes 'hitting' with a word suggesting a sudden or forceful contact.

it collided with

Replaces the phrase with a more descriptive term for a physical impact.

it affected

Replaces with a term that indicates influence or change as a result of contact.

it reached

Indicates that something was arriving at a particular point or state.

it made contact with

A more formal substitution to describe an instance of physical touching.

it connected with

Implies a more substantial or meaningful impact than just a simple touch.

it was reaching

Expresses the sense of arriving at a point or time.

FAQs

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

Use "it was hitting" to describe something impacting or affecting another thing, such as "As the storm approached, "it was hitting" the coast with strong winds".

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

You can use alternatives like "it was impacting", "it struck", or "it collided with" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "it was hitting" or "it was impacted"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but ""it was hitting"" implies an active, ongoing impact, while "it was impacted" suggests a passive reception of an effect. The choice depends on the intended meaning.

What's the difference between "it was hitting" and "it was affecting"?

"It was hitting" generally refers to physical impact or force, whereas "it was affecting" indicates influence or change.