it was night

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence "it was night" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it whenever you are describing a night scene, wishing to establish the time of day, or make a comparison between day and night. Example sentence: It was night, yet the street lamps provided enough light for us to find our way back home.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

48 human-written examples

SCHULTZ: It was night terrors.

The New Yorker

It was night, then it was day.

The New York Times - Books

It was night and very dark.

The New York Times

It was night, it was raining.

The New Yorker

By then it was night.

The Guardian - Sport

"Just now it was night," he says.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

12 human-written examples

It was late afternoon.

The New York Times

It was noon.

The New York Times

It was midday, hot.

The New Yorker

It was 7 a.m.

The New Yorker

So it was last night.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider varying your sentence structure with alternatives like "night had fallen" or "darkness prevailed" to avoid repetition and enrich your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "it was night" when a specific time is already mentioned. For example, instead of saying "It was night, at 8 pm", simply state "It was 8 pm".

Linguistic Context

Function: The phrase "it was night" serves as an existential clause, asserting the existence of nighttime at a specific point in the narrative or context. Ludwig confirms its validity and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Science

7%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was night" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression used to indicate the time of day. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage. It is most often found in news and media, serving to establish the setting or context of a narrative. While straightforward, varying your sentence structure with alternatives can enrich your writing. Be mindful not to use it redundantly when specific times are already mentioned.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was nighttime

A more explicit and descriptive way of stating it was night.

night had fallen

Emphasizes the completion of the transition to nighttime.

darkness prevailed

Highlights the dominance of darkness, synonymous with night.

darkness had arrived

Focuses on the arrival of darkness as a defining characteristic of night.

evening had come

Highlights the progression from evening into night.

the day was over

Implies night by stating the end of the day.

twilight had passed

Indicates the transition from twilight to full night.

it was late

Suggests it was night by indicating the advanced hour.

the stars were out

Describes the presence of stars, implying it was night.

the moon was visible

Mentions the moon, a common feature of nighttime.

FAQs

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

You can use "it was night" to set the scene, indicating the time of day. For example, "It was night, and the city lights twinkled below".

What are some alternatives to saying "it was night"?

Alternatives include "night had fallen", "darkness had arrived", or "it was nighttime", depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "it was night time"?

While "it was nighttime" is acceptable, "it was night" is more concise and commonly used.

What's the difference between "it was night" and "it was evening"?

"It was evening" suggests the early part of the night, while "it was night" can refer to any time during the night.