it was not acceptable

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence "it was not acceptable" is grammatically correct and is often used in written English.
You can use it to express disapproval of any action, situation, or behavior. Example: "John's attitude was not acceptable; you should have reprimanded him for his behavior."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Co-chief executive J K Shin apologised to shareholders and said it was "not acceptable" that the company failed to meet its own quality assurance standards.

The Guardian - Tech

Thank you for insisting that it was not acceptable".

Independent

Africa was falling behind and it was not acceptable".

The New York Times

"I told him it was not acceptable," an angry Valentine said.

The New York Times - Sports

Referring to the high execution rates in the country, Mr Corbyn said it was not acceptable.

Independent

In general," she said, "it was not acceptable to speak about sex".

The New York Times

It was not acceptable even to consider the possibility that they were on the wrong track.

The New York Times

Speaking in Oxford last night, he said it was not acceptable to simply wait until another hostile bidder emerges.

The Guardian - Business

It was not acceptable that the bank's management tended to treat these priority issues as afterthoughts, it added.

The Guardian

"He refused the descriptions of sexual intermediates such as transvestites and hermaphrodites, it was not acceptable for him.

The Guardian

Here we were in contract with a client — it was not acceptable for us to pass that on to them".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was not acceptable" when you want to express a firm disapproval or indicate that something fails to meet a required standard or expectation. Ensure the context clearly defines what standard is being violated.

Common error

Avoid using "it was not acceptable" without clearly stating or implying what the standard or expectation was. Always provide enough context to ensure the reason for unacceptability is understood.

Linguistic Context

The primary function of "it was not acceptable" is to express disapproval, rejection, or the failure of something to meet a specific standard or expectation. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples where the phrase conveys a negative judgment.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Science

2%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was not acceptable" is a common and grammatically correct way to express disapproval or indicate that something does not meet a certain standard. Ludwig AI's analysis of numerous examples from reliable sources confirms that its purpose is to convey disagreement or criticism across various contexts. While the phrase is most frequently used in news and media, it's also found in formal business communications and encyclopedia articles. Remember to provide sufficient context when using this phrase to ensure the reason for unacceptability is clear. Alternatives like "it was inadmissible" or "it was out of line" can be used depending on the desired level of formality. Ludwig can help you find more examples and rephrase depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was inadmissible

Replaces "acceptable" with "admissible", focusing on the idea of something not being allowed or permitted.

it was impermissible

Uses "impermissible" instead of "acceptable", emphasizing that something is not allowed.

it was unsatisfactory

Substitutes "acceptable" with "satisfactory", highlighting that something did not meet the required standards.

it was inappropriate

Replaces "acceptable" with "inappropriate", focusing on the unsuitability of something in a specific context.

it was intolerable

Uses "intolerable" instead of "acceptable", suggesting that something was unbearable or impossible to endure.

it was unpardonable

Replaces "acceptable" with "unpardonable", implying that something is unforgivable.

it was out of line

Expresses that something crossed a boundary or was inappropriate behavior.

it fell short of expectations

Indicates that something did not meet the anticipated standards or requirements.

that was out of the question

Emphasizes that something was completely impossible or not worth considering.

that simply wouldn't do

Suggests that something was inadequate or not good enough.

FAQs

How can I use "it was not acceptable" in a sentence?

Use "it was not acceptable" to express disapproval or indicate that something doesn't meet a certain standard. For example, "His behavior at the meeting, /s/it+was+not+acceptable, was disrespectful and unprofessional".

What's a formal alternative to "it was not acceptable"?

In formal contexts, consider using phrases like "it was inadmissible" or "it was impermissible" to convey a similar meaning with a more sophisticated tone.

What can I say instead of "it was not acceptable" in a less formal setting?

For less formal situations, you might use phrases like "it was out of line" or "that simply wouldn't do" to convey similar disapproval.

Is "it is not acceptable for you" grammatically different from "it was not acceptable"?

Yes, "it is not acceptable for you" is present tense, indicating a current lack of acceptance, while "it was not acceptable" is past tense, referring to something that was unacceptable at a previous time. The choice depends on the specific context.