it was lost

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "It was lost" is correct and can be used in written English.
For example, you might use it in a sentence like: "I tried to find my car keys, but I realized it was lost."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He captured the English industrial scene at its murky climax, before it was lost or sanitised.

The Economist

Of course, it was lost.

The New York Times

It was lost".

The New York Times

It was lost in the singing.

The New Yorker

It was lost innocently, for nothing".

The New Yorker

Normally, that would mean it was lost.

The Economist

All of it was lost".

The New Yorker

It was lost at sea in 2003.

The Washington Post

Then contact with it was lost.

The Washington Post

I don't know when it was lost.

The Guardian

Perhaps it was lost even before that.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was lost" when you want to convey that something is no longer recoverable or has disappeared. Ensure the context clearly indicates what "it" refers to.

Common error

Avoid using "it was lost" if the antecedent of "it" is unclear or ambiguous. Always ensure the reader knows what "it" refers to.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was lost" functions as a declarative statement, indicating that something has been misplaced, disappeared, or is no longer recoverable. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically sound and frequently used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was lost" is a grammatically correct and very common expression used to indicate that something has disappeared or is no longer recoverable. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. It is suitable for a wide range of contexts, primarily appearing in news and media, academic writing and scientific reports. When using this phrase, ensure clarity in pronoun reference and choose appropriate synonyms like "it disappeared" or "it went missing" based on the specific nuance you want to convey. The phrase's frequency and presence in authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Economist underscore its reliability and widespread acceptance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was gone

A simple and direct way to state that something is no longer present.

it disappeared

Focuses on the vanishing aspect rather than the state of being unrecoverable.

it vanished

Similar to disappeared, but often implies a sudden or mysterious disappearance.

it went missing

Similar to disappeared, but often used when something is searched for.

it was irretrievable

Emphasizes that retrieval is impossible.

it was misplaced

Implies a temporary loss, often due to carelessness, rather than a permanent one.

it became irretrievable

Highlights the impossibility of recovery.

it slipped away

Suggests a gradual or subtle loss.

it was forfeited

Suggests a loss due to a rule or consequence.

it was squandered

Indicates that something was wasted or lost foolishly.

FAQs

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

You can use "it was lost" to indicate that something is no longer recoverable or has disappeared. For example: "The document contained vital information, but "it was lost" during the move."

What phrases are similar to "it was lost"?

Similar phrases include "it disappeared", "it went missing", or "it was gone". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "it was losted" instead of "it was lost"?

No, "it was losted" is grammatically incorrect. The correct past participle of "lose" is "lost", so the correct phrase is "it was lost".

What is the difference between "it is lost" and "it was lost"?

"It is lost" implies a present state of being lost, while "it was lost" refers to a past event. For example, "The key is lost" means the key is currently not found, whereas "The key was lost" means the key disappeared at some point in the past.