it was now when

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was now when" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is typically used incorrectly as it combines two time indicators that can create confusion. Example: "It was now when I realized I had forgotten my keys."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"It was now, when the danger appeared past, that I began to feel fully the greatness of my loss," Wallace wrote.

The New Yorker

I do not know when this movie was conceived; but the more adventurous directors tend to have timing on their side, and Fincher must know that if he was ever going to make a film about security the moment to do it was now, when insecurity has become as common as migraine, with its paralyzing throb.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

It was not a basketball, as it is now when Dalembert plays center for Seton Hall.

The New York Times - Sports

Peaceful as it is now, when operating at full tilt White Street was an unforgiving machine.

The New York Times

If ever public service unions needed to have their voices heard, it is now, when they find themselves demonized for much that ails America.

The New York Times

When the pressure on the Islamic groups was not nearly as great as it is now, when they were more or less able to freely move about, they never attacked Mahfouz.

The New Yorker

"There will probably come a time when 9/11 isn't as immediate as it is now, when they kind of get lost in the system".

The New York Times

This is why it is now, when the Cyprus crisis has begun to disappear from the media that one should think and write about it.

The Guardian - Opinion

As it is now, when we pay our taxes we get absolutely no acknowledgement, not even a simple thank-you note from the White House.

The New York Times

Linsley: Our results would suggest that there was more heat in the oceans in the early Holocene but it absorbed that heat much more slowly than it is now, when there are much more rapid changes going on.

The New York Times

His argument then was the same as it is now, when he wrote: It sounds like common sense to minimise human impact on the environment and to reduce the human contribution to increased atmospheric-gas concentrations.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For clarity, avoid combining "now" with "when" in the same phrase. Instead, opt for constructions like "it was then that" or "it is now that" for better grammatical flow.

Common error

Avoid using both "now" and "when" together as they create redundancy and grammatical awkwardness. Choose one or the other for a clearer sentence structure.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was now when" functions as a temporal connector, attempting to link a past event with a specific point in time. However, it's grammatically awkward and often considered incorrect, as noted by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it was now when" is grammatically questionable due to its redundant use of time indicators. Ludwig AI confirms its awkwardness, suggesting it's best to avoid this construction in favor of clearer alternatives like "it was then that" or "it was at that moment when". While it may occasionally appear in informal contexts, its limited frequency and potential for misinterpretation make it unsuitable for formal or professional writing. To improve clarity and grammatical correctness, opt for more precise and less ambiguous phrasing when specifying a point in time.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was at that moment when

Replaces "now" with "at that moment" for emphasis and slight change in focus.

that was the instant when

Replaces 'now' with 'the instant,' highlighting the immediacy of the moment.

it was just then that

Uses "just then" to indicate immediacy, changing the temporal emphasis.

it was precisely when

Adds emphasis on exact timing using "precisely", slightly altering the tone.

it was the time when

More generic phrasing, indicating a specific period, which reduces the sense of immediacy.

it happened now when

Emphasizes the occurrence alongside timing, slightly different in structure and flow.

it occurred now when

Similar to 'happened,' but slightly more formal, shifting the register.

it began then when

Focuses on the start of something, changing the emphasis to initiation.

the moment arrived when

More literary phrasing, signaling a significant event.

the point came when

Highlights the culmination or critical juncture, slightly changing the focus.

FAQs

How can I correctly express a moment in time without using "it was now when"?

Instead of "it was now when", you can use phrases like "it was then that", "it was at that moment when", or "it was the time when", depending on the context.

What is a grammatically sound alternative to "it was now when"?

Grammatically sound alternatives include "it was then that", "it was at this point that", or simply restructuring the sentence to avoid the combined "now when".

Is there a specific situation where "it was now when" would be considered acceptable?

While rarely considered grammatically correct, in very informal or colloquial speech, "it was now when" might be used. However, it's best to avoid it in formal writing. Use instead alternatives like "it was then that" or "at that moment".

Why is "it was now when" considered grammatically questionable?

The phrase combines "now" and "when", creating redundancy in expressing time. "Now" indicates the present, while "when" introduces a clause relating to a specific time. Using them together is often seen as incorrect. Use instead options like "it was at this moment that" or "that was when".