it was making

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was making" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an ongoing action or process that was happening in the past. Example: "As I walked through the forest, I noticed that it was making a strange noise."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

"If I have done anything," she told British Vogue, "it was making ugly cool".

The New Yorker

A Comer Homes spokesperson said it was making "good progress" with its new application.

BBC

Kick It Out said its own research suggested fans thought it was making a noticeable difference.

BBC

It was making a mess and bleeding a little from its foot.

BBC

"It was making me jealous.

The New York Times - Food

It was making me crazy.

The New York Times

It was making good baseball decisions.

The New York Times - Sports

They said it was making them ill.

Independent

"Keanu said it was making him stupid.

The New Yorker

It was making me ill.

The Guardian

It was making me angry".

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was making" to describe an action in progress in the past, especially when emphasizing the continuous or ongoing nature of that action. For instance, "The constant rain meant it was making the roads slippery."

Common error

Avoid using the simple past tense (e.g., "it made") when the intention is to convey a continuous action in the past. "It was making" emphasizes the ongoing process, while "it made" suggests a completed action. To correctly use "it was making" ensure that the context implies that the making activity happened over a period of time, not just once.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was making" functions as part of a verb phrase in the past continuous tense. It describes an ongoing action or process in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was making" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression in English. As demonstrated by the numerous examples found by Ludwig, its primary function is to describe an action that was in progress at a specific point in the past. It's most commonly found in news and media contexts and has a neutral register, making it suitable for various writing styles. While generally correct, ensure the simple past tense is not more appropriate when referring to a completed past action, according to Ludwig AI's observations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was starting to make

Emphasizes the beginning of the action or effect.

it was causing

Focuses specifically on the act of causing something to happen.

it had been making

Shifts the focus to an action completed before another point in the past.

it began to make

Highlights the initiation of the making process.

it used to make

Focuses on a habitual action in the past, rather than a continuous one at a specific time.

it generated

Emphasizes the production or creation aspect.

it contributed to

Indicates a causal relationship, but with a focus on contribution rather than direct creation.

it produced

Highlights the creation or output of something.

it resulted in

Focuses on the outcome or consequence of something.

it created

Highlights the act of bringing something new into existence, whereas the original focuses on a process

FAQs

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

Use "it was making" to describe an action that was in progress at a specific time in the past. For example, "The factory was very noisy because "it was making" a lot of new products."

What are some alternatives to "it was making"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "it was creating", "it was producing", or "it was causing" to convey similar meanings. The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to express.

What is the difference between "it made" and "it was making"?

"It made" refers to a completed action in the past, while ""it was making"" describes an action that was in progress or ongoing at a certain point in the past. For example, "It made a mess" implies the mess is done, while ""it was making" a mess" means the mess was still happening.

Is it ever incorrect to use "it was making"?

While ""it was making"" is grammatically correct, it would be inappropriate if you want to describe a single, completed action in the past. In such cases, using the simple past tense (e.g., "it made") would be more accurate.