it was may

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was may" is not correct in written English.
It seems to be a typographical error or a misunderstanding of the month name "May," which should be capitalized. Example: "It was May when we decided to go on vacation."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

I think it was May".

The New York Times - Magazine

It was May.

Columbia University

It was May, not June.

The New York Times

It was May Day 1990.

The Guardian - Travel

If it was May, maybe.

The Guardian - Sport

It was May, at Electric Lady.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

It was May 2000, not last May.

The New York Times

It was May 21.

The Washington Post

It was May 29 in Anaheim.

The New York Times - Sports

It was May 9 — not "last Wednesday" (May 16).

The New York Times

It was May 31, not 21.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a specific time in May, specify the date for better clarity, such as "It was May 15th" or "It was May of 2020".

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "it was May" without further clarification. Instead, opt for "it happened in May" or "the event was in May" for grammatical correctness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase, while seemingly straightforward, functions as a temporal reference, aiming to pinpoint when an event took place. However, it lacks grammatical completeness, needing a verb to describe the actual event. Ludwig AI marks it as incorrect due to missing a verb.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

25%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it was may" is frequently used across various sources, especially in news and media and academic contexts. However, it is considered grammatically incomplete. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is incorrect in written English. The primary issue lies in the lack of a verb to describe what occurred in May, rendering the sentence structurally incomplete. It's advisable to use alternative phrasing such as "it happened in May" or "the event was in May" to maintain grammatical accuracy while conveying the intended temporal context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it happened in May

Replaces the "was" with "happened in", providing a more direct statement about an event's timing.

it occurred in May

Similar to "it happened in May", but uses a more formal verb to describe the event.

the event was in May

Rephrases the sentence to focus on the event and its timing.

it was during May

Uses "during" to indicate the timeframe of the event.

the month was May

Focuses on identifying the month in question.

May was the month

Inverts the previous phrase for emphasis.

it all started in May

Adds a sense of beginning or initiation to the event.

that took place in May

Uses a more descriptive phrase to indicate when the event occurred.

May marked the start

Highlights May as the commencement of something significant.

the time was May

Emphasizes the period when the event occurred.

FAQs

How can I correctly use "it was" when referring to a month?

Instead of "it was May", you should say "it happened in May" or "the event was in May". To be more specific, you can say "it was May 5th".

What's a more formal way to say something happened in May?

For a more formal tone, consider using "it occurred in May" or "the event took place in May".

Is "it was May" grammatically correct?

According to Ludwig AI, the phrase "it was may" is not correct in written English. It is suggested to use "it happened in May" instead.

What can I say instead of "it was May" to describe the beginning of something?

You could say "May marked the start" or "it all started in May" depending on the context.