it was land

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was land" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a specific piece of land or territory in a narrative or descriptive context. Example: "As we sailed closer to the shore, I could see it was land, not just a mirage on the horizon."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

It was land returning to nature.

The New York Times

It was as much anthropological fieldwork as it was land surveying, sometimes more myth than geography.

The New Yorker

It was land where Koreans lived for free, in houses they had built there illegally.

Harvard Business Review

It was land, incidentally, that included the stone house where his mother was born.

The New York Times

They used to play behind the house when it was land but now, you can only swim there.

The Guardian - Arts

But in the late 1940s, it was land which had been plundered for coal and road stone and then abandoned.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

"Before, it was 'Get big fast.' It was land-grab mentality.

MIT Technology Review

Exploded into flames as it was landing.

Independent

"I didn't think it was landing," she said.

The New Yorker

Maybe, for them, it was landing on Mars!

Huffington Post

It is land they want back.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing transformations, clarify what the land is now if it no longer fits the description. For example, "It was land, but now it's a lake."

Common error

Avoid using "its land" when you mean "it is land". "Its" indicates possession (e.g., "The company sold its land"), while "it's" is a contraction of "it is".

Linguistic Context

It was land functions as a descriptive phrase. It identifies or specifies the nature of a particular area, stating that its composition or state was that of land. This use is seen in Ludwig's examples, where the phrase clarifies the geographical state of a location in the past.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was land" serves to describe a geographical area's past state or composition, commonly appearing in news and media and wiki contexts. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. When using this phrase, it's important to avoid confusing "its" with "it's" and to ensure the tense aligns with the intended meaning. Understanding these nuances helps ensure clear and accurate communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it constituted land

Replaces "was" with "constituted", emphasizing the composition of the area as land.

it comprised land

Similar to "constituted", but focuses on the elements included within the area.

it consisted of land

Highlights that the area's primary component was land.

it was formerly land

Similar to "it used to be land", highlighting a previous condition of being land.

it used to be land

Indicates a change over time, where the area was previously land but may not be now.

it had been land

Emphasizes a past state of being land, with potential implications for its current condition.

it amounted to land

Indicates the total area was equivalent to a certain amount of land.

it represented land

Suggests the area symbolized or acted as a representation of land.

it denoted land

Focuses on the area's function as an indicator or signifier of land.

it qualified as land

Suggests the area met the criteria or definition of land.

FAQs

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

You can use "it was land" to describe a geographical area's past state or composition, like in "They used to play behind the house when "it was land" but now, you can only swim there."

What are some alternatives to "it was land"?

Alternatives include phrases like "it constituted land", "it comprised land", or "it used to be land", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "it's land" or "it was land"?

"It's land" (a contraction of "it is land") is correct for present-tense descriptions. "It was land" is correct for past-tense descriptions. The choice depends on when the area was or is land.

What's the difference between "it was land" and "it had been land"?

"It was land" describes a state that existed in the past. "It had been land" implies the area was land for a period of time before something else occurred. The latter emphasizes a duration of time in the past.