it was ordinarily

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was ordinarily" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that typically or usually occurred in the past. Example: "It was ordinarily a quiet town, but that day was different."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

It is ordinarily tougher, but the filet is steak at its most tender.

The New York Times - Food

Congress is even more unpopular than it is ordinarily.

The New York Times

It is ordinarily found with malachite in the oxidized zone of copper lodes.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It is ordinarily found with chabazite in basalts, as in Bodenmais, Germany Kongsberg, Norwayy; and western Scotland.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"It is ordinarily this forum that decides whether the law has been violated," she said.

The New York Times

Life as it is ordinarily lived can, seemingly at random, be cosmically interfered with.

The Guardian - Books

It is ordinarily found associated with other sulfide minerals in tin veins, as at Cornwall, England; Zeehan, Tasmania; and Bolivia.

Encyclopedia Britannica

As noted earlier (see above Abstract and concrete), it is ordinarily quite unclear exactly where such things as beliefs and desires are located.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It is ordinarily better to borrow on an unsecured basis, but frequently a borrower's credit rating is not strong enough to justify an unsecured loan.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It is ordinarily found in fairly pure form in association with barite and galena in low-temperature hydrothermal veins, as in the north of England and in Scotland.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It is ordinarily found in association with malachite, azurite, and other copper minerals in the oxidized zone of copper deposits, particularly in arid regions.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it was ordinarily", ensure the context clearly establishes a past time frame and that the statement reflects a typical or usual condition. Avoid ambiguity by providing specific examples or situations that illustrate the ordinary state.

Common error

Be mindful not to confuse "ordinarily" (typically, usually) with "extraordinarily" (exceptionally, remarkably). Using the wrong word can completely alter the intended meaning of your sentence. Proofread carefully to ensure accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was ordinarily" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb, specifying how something typically occurred in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, this construction is grammatically sound and provides a clear indication of past habitual action.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

40%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was ordinarily" is a grammatically correct way to describe past habitual actions or typical conditions. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is suitable for diverse contexts, appearing frequently in News & Media, Encyclopedias and Science domains, although its overall frequency is rare. When writing with the expression "it was ordinarily", ensure the sentence is written with a clear past time frame to avoid any confusion about the meaning. Remember to avoid confusing it with "extraordinarily".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it usually was

Replaces 'ordinarily' with 'usually', indicating a common occurrence.

it typically was

Substitutes 'ordinarily' with 'typically', highlighting standard behavior.

it was normally

Uses 'normally' as an alternative to 'ordinarily', pointing to expected conditions.

it generally was

Uses 'generally' instead of 'ordinarily', suggesting a common but not universal pattern.

it commonly was

Replaces 'ordinarily' with 'commonly', emphasizing frequent occurrence.

it regularly was

Substitutes 'ordinarily' with 'regularly', indicating a consistent pattern.

it was habitually

Replaces 'ordinarily' with 'habitually', suggesting a routine or ingrained behavior.

it was by custom

Indicates that something occurred due to established custom or practice.

it was the tradition

Replaces phrase with specification that action represents a tradition.

it was the norm

Replaces phrase with specification that action represents a normal action.

FAQs

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

Use "it was ordinarily" to describe a situation or event that typically or usually happened in the past. For instance, "It was ordinarily a quiet town, but that day was different."

What phrases are similar to "it was ordinarily"?

Similar phrases include "it was usually", "it was typically", or "it was normally". Choose the phrase that best fits the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "it was ordinarily" formal or informal?

"It was ordinarily" is generally considered neutral to slightly formal. While not overly stiff, it's suitable for most writing contexts, including news articles, encyclopedias, and academic papers. Using "it was normally" is more casual.

What's the difference between "it was ordinarily" and "it is ordinarily"?

"It was ordinarily" refers to a past state or condition that was typical. "It is ordinarily" refers to a present state or condition that is typical. The tense of the verb changes the time frame of the statement.