it was owned

USAGE SUMMARY

"it was owned" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe the ownership of something that has been transferred from one person or entity to another. For example, "The deed to the property was signed over, and it was owned by the new buyer."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

It was owned by Federated.

The New York Times

"It was owned by Indians," he recalled.

The Guardian

It was owned by a seamstress.

The New York Times

"It was owned by a straight family, too," he said.

The New York Times

It was owned by George Martin - the Beatles producer.

The Guardian - Music

It was owned by a man who was rarely home.

The New Yorker

Initially, it was owned by the Smith family.

The New York Times

It was owned by a friend of mine.

The New Yorker

It was owned by a company I represented.

The Guardian - Sport

It was owned by the late Payne Whitney.

The New Yorker

"In the 20th century, it was owned by two American families".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase, ensure that the context makes it clear who the owner was. If the owner is not immediately obvious, specify them to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "it is owned" when referring to a past state of ownership. "It is owned" implies current ownership, while "it was owned" correctly refers to a past owner.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was owned" functions as a passive construction indicating that something was previously under the possession or control of a specific entity. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its common usage in describing past ownership.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Wiki

19%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it was owned" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe past ownership, as validated by Ludwig. It appears frequently in news, media, and wiki contexts. According to Ludwig, the phrase has a neutral register, and its primary function is to convey historical information or trace the provenance of something. When using this phrase, ensure clarity about who the owner was to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives such as "it belonged to" and "it was previously held by" can be used depending on the desired level of formality and context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it belonged to

Focuses on the concept of belonging or possession by someone in the past.

it had been possessed by

Emphasizes a state of being possessed, often implying a longer duration of ownership.

it was previously held by

Highlights the prior holding or ownership, often in a formal context.

the previous owner was

Shifts the focus to the owner rather than the item itself.

it once was in the hands of

Suggests a more personal or informal type of holding or control.

ownership was with

Highlights the status of the ownership at a certain point in time.

it was under the control of

Implies a degree of control or management in addition to ownership.

it was the property of

More formal phrasing indicating ownership or belonging.

it was formerly possessed by

Stresses the past nature of the possession.

title was held by

Specifically refers to the legal right of ownership or title.

FAQs

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

You can use "it was owned" to indicate that something was previously under the possession or control of someone, for example, "The house "it was owned" by my grandparents before they sold it".

What's a more formal alternative to "it was owned"?

More formal alternatives include "it was previously held by" or "title was held by", which are suitable for legal or business contexts.

Is "it was owned by" grammatically correct?

Yes, "it was owned by" is grammatically correct. It clearly specifies the owner, as in "The company "it was owned by" a local family."

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

"It is owned" indicates current ownership, while ""it was owned"" indicates past ownership. For example, "The business is owned by John," versus "The business "it was owned" by Mary before she retired".