it was no

USAGE SUMMARY

'it was no' is not a correct sentence in written English.
You can use it in spoken English, however, as a response to a question or statement to indicate disagreement or to show that something is not true. For example, Person 1: "I think Alison will make the basketball team." Person 2: "It was no."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It was no better.

The New Yorker

It was no contest.

The New York Times

It was no secret".

The New York Times - Sports

"It was no trouble".

The New Yorker

It was no fluke.

The New York Times - Sports

It was no mistake.

The New York Times - Sports

It was no breeze.

The New York Times - Sports

It was no penalty.

Independent

And it was 'No.' ".

The New York Times

It was no problem.

The New York Times - Sports

It was no throw-away.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal writing, avoid using "it was no" as it is considered grammatically incorrect. Instead, opt for more appropriate alternatives like "it wasn't" or "that wasn't".

Common error

Relying on "it was no" in professional or academic writing can undermine your credibility. Ensure your language aligns with the context and audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was no" functions primarily as a negative declarative statement. Ludwig AI shows it is frequently used to negate an assumption, expectation, or previous statement. Although frequently used, the phrase doesn't follow standard English grammar rules, as noted by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "it was no" appears frequently in various contexts, Ludwig AI identifies it as not grammatically correct in formal written English. Its primary function is to negate or contradict a previous statement. Though common in news and media, writers should consider using grammatically correct alternatives like "it wasn't" or "that wasn't" to maintain credibility in professional and academic writing. The high frequency of the phrase indicates its prevalence in everyday communication, but careful attention should be paid to the context to ensure appropriateness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it wasn't

Changes the structure to a more grammatically sound contraction of "it was not".

that wasn't

Shifts the focus slightly, emphasizing a specific previous action or item.

it did not

Emphasizes the lack of occurrence or the failure of something to happen.

that did not

Similar to "it did not", but refers to a previously mentioned action or item.

there wasn't

Indicates the absence of something in a specific location or situation.

it is not

A more formal, non-contracted version of "it wasn't", suitable for certain contexts.

that is not

Similar to "it is not", used to clarify the nature of something previously mentioned.

it's not

A contraction that functions similarly to "it isn't", but is less common.

that's not

Contraction emphasizes the focus on a previous action or item.

it cannot be

Indicates impossibility or a strong belief that something is not the case.

FAQs

Is "it was no" grammatically correct?

Ludwig AI identifies "it was no" as not grammatically correct in formal written English. While it may appear in some contexts, such as in spoken language or informal writing, it's generally better to use alternatives like "it wasn't" or "that wasn't" in formal contexts.

When is it appropriate to use "it was no"?

While generally discouraged in formal writing, "it was no" might be acceptable in informal spoken English or in creative writing where a character's dialect or speech pattern is intentionally non-standard.

What are some alternatives to "it was no"?

Depending on the context, you can replace "it was no" with phrases such as "it wasn't", "that wasn't", or "it did not". These alternatives offer better grammatical correctness and clarity.

How can I improve my sentence structure instead of using "it was no"?

Focus on constructing grammatically sound sentences by using proper verb conjugations and clear subject-verb agreement. For example, instead of saying "it was no problem", say "it was not a problem" or "there was no problem".