it was not viable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was not viable" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something was not feasible or practical in a given context. Example: "After reviewing the project proposal, we concluded that it was not viable due to budget constraints."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

Then they said it was not viable, so it wasn't even put up for a vote".

The New York Times

He flirted with a presidential run in 2008, but decided it was not viable.

The New York Times

Some universities would decide it was not viable or sensible "to try and pretend to be a comprehensive research university".

The Guardian

Mudd found that, given the high proportion of acid-forming rock in the waste product, the company's plan to leave a giant open pit in the ground, and a giant pile of waste rock along site it, was not viable.

The Guardian

Last week West Somerset district council examined the possibility of making most of its staff redundant after an internal report saying that government funding cuts meant it was "not viable" in the long term.

The Guardian

Rice, who made a three-day visit to Afghanistan to visit US troops, told Karzai it was not viable to defer signing the deal until after the election, the White House said, adding: "It would not provide the United States and Nato allies the clarity necessary to plan for a potential post-2014 military presence.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

"It wasn't a feel-good and it wasn't viable," he said.

The New York Times

That paper won a Pulitzer prize in 1984, but commercially, it wasn't viable.

The Guardian - Opinion

"We saw the problem, understood it, Bill understood it wasn't viable, and we stopped it," Mr. Podesta said.

The New York Times

It's an amazing genre of music, and if it wasn't viable, you wouldn't have pretty much every other genre borrowing from it".

Los Angeles Times

There the company's two directors say it "is not viable on its own merit" and lacks "adequate capital resources to pay this debt".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it was not viable", ensure you provide context explaining why something was not viable. Specificity adds clarity and strength to your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "it was not viable" as a blanket statement. Always provide a clear explanation or reason to support your claim, otherwise the phrase sounds unsubstantiated and weak.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was not viable" functions as a statement of impossibility or impracticality. It predicates that a specific subject could not succeed or be implemented effectively under given circumstances. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's proper usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it was not viable" is a common and grammatically sound way to express that something is impractical or impossible to achieve. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase appears frequently in News & Media and Scientific contexts, indicating a neutral register. When using "it was not viable", it's best practice to provide specific reasons to support your claim. Alternatives such as "it was not feasible" or "it was unsustainable" can be used depending on the specific nuances you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it wasn't feasible

Replaces "viable" with "feasible", focusing on the practicality of the situation.

it wasn't practical

Substitutes "viable" with "practical", highlighting the real-world applicability of something.

it was unsustainable

Replaces the phrase with a focus on the long-term ability to maintain something.

it was unworkable

Emphasizes that the plan or idea could not be successfully implemented.

it was impossible to implement

Highlights the impossibility of putting something into action.

it was doomed to fail

Focuses on the inevitable failure of something.

it lacked potential

Shifts the focus to the absence of future prospects or possibilities.

it couldn't succeed

Simply states the inability of something to achieve success.

it was a dead end

Suggests that the idea or plan would lead to no positive outcome.

it was unrealistic

Indicates the idea was not grounded in reality or likely to happen.

FAQs

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

Use "it was not viable" to express that a plan, idea, or project couldn't succeed or be practically implemented. For example: "After careful consideration, the proposal was rejected because "it was not viable" due to high costs."

What are some alternatives to saying "it was not viable"?

You can use alternatives like "it was not feasible", "it was unsustainable", or "it was unworkable" depending on the specific context and the reason for the lack of viability.

What is the difference between "it was not viable" and "it was not feasible"?

While similar, "viable" often implies the capacity to develop or succeed, whereas "feasible" emphasizes the practicality of being done or carried out. So, ""it was not viable"" might suggest a project lacked the potential for success, while "it was not feasible" means it couldn't be practically executed.

Is it better to say "it wasn't viable" or "it was not viable"?

Both "it wasn't viable" and ""it was not viable"" are grammatically correct and acceptable. The choice often depends on the desired level of formality. "It wasn't viable" is slightly more informal due to the contraction.