it was key

USAGE SUMMARY

'it was key' is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it to express that something was essential or critical to the outcome of a situation. For example: "Winning the argument was key; without it, the project would have failed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

The laptop was worth far more to my son than just its monetary value -- it was key to the journalism career he was working to build.

Huffington Post

"It was Key West from 50 years earlier, back when people still wanted to go to Key West," Larry remembers of his first impressions.

Huffington Post

For Cardwell, it was key.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

And it was key to sushi's crossover.

The Guardian

"Having a retailer like Costco buy into it was key".

The New York Times

I felt it was key to expand the dramatic writing options in the playwriting concentration.

Columbia University

Radcliffe said that a commitment to security, and a continued awareness of it, was key.

The Guardian

For me, it was key to ground my story in the culture of Nigeria.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

"It's key.

The New York Times

And it is key.

The Guardian

And it's key.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was key" to emphasize a specific action, element, or factor that was indispensable for achieving a desired outcome. This phrase is particularly effective when highlighting a turning point or a critical component of success.

Common error

Avoid overuse of "it was key" in close proximity within your writing. While effective, frequent repetition can diminish its impact. Instead, vary your language by using synonyms like "crucial", "essential", or "vital" to maintain reader engagement and clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was key" functions as a predicative expression, emphasizing the critical importance or necessity of a particular element or action. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

18%

Science

14%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it was key" is a widely used phrase to emphasize the crucial nature of an element or action. Ludwig AI confirms that the expression is grammatically correct, and the phrase is commonly found in News & Media, academic and scientific contexts. To enhance your writing, remember to vary your language and be mindful of the context's formality. While "it was key" is useful in many situations, synonyms like "it was crucial" or "it was essential" can help avoid repetition. Always ensure the phrase aligns with the intended emphasis and the overall tone of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was crucial

Replaces 'key' with 'crucial', emphasizing the importance.

it was essential

Substitutes 'key' with 'essential', highlighting the necessity.

it was vital

Replaces 'key' with 'vital', stressing the indispensability.

it was critical

Substitutes 'key' with 'critical', underscoring the importance for success.

it was paramount

Replaces 'key' with 'paramount', indicating top-level importance.

it was indispensable

Replaces 'key' emphasizing that something cannot be done without.

it was fundamental

Substitutes 'key' with 'fundamental', indicating it forms a necessary base.

it was a necessity

Rephrases to highlight the required nature of something.

it was of the essence

Emphasizes the crucial timing and nature of something.

it was significant

Replaces 'key' with 'significant', indicating its noteworthiness and importance.

FAQs

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

Use "it was key" to highlight a pivotal element or action. For instance, "Securing funding "it was key" to launching the project successfully."

What are some alternatives to "it was key"?

Consider alternatives such as "it was crucial", "it was essential", or "it was vital" to add variety to your writing.

Is "it was key" formal or informal?

"It was key" is suitable for both neutral and professional contexts. However, in highly formal settings, consider using a more sophisticated alternative like "it was paramount".

What's the difference between "it was key" and "it was important"?

"It was key" implies a higher degree of necessity than "it was important". Key suggests that the element was indispensable, while important suggests it was significant but not necessarily crucial. For example, if someone said, "solving the key was important", it's less decisive than "solving the key was key".