it was questions

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was questions" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be used in informal contexts, but it lacks clarity and specificity in meaning. Example: "During the meeting, it was questions that sparked the most interesting discussions."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

It was questions such as these that impelled the Scots towards union with England in the 18th century, and gave all parts of the United Kingdom an interest in developing a shared British identity.

The Economist

William C. Thompson Jr., the city comptroller, said it was questions like those, long unanswered by transit officials, that led him to order a full audit of the transit authority, also known as New York City Transit, the agency that operates the subway system and city buses.

The New York Times

OPRAH: What did you ask? JEAN: Well, I asked, "When Ezekiel saw the wheel, was he drunk?" It was questions like that.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

It's question time.

The New York Times

"It's question after question after question".

The New York Times

It's question of health full stop.

Vice

It is question and answer both.

Huffington Post

Yet it is being questioned.

The Guardian

It was a question of money.

The New York Times

IT WAS, beyond question, a disgrace.

The Economist

"It was a question of speed".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to questions, be specific. Instead of "it was questions", provide context such as "the inquiry involved questions about…" or "the discussion centered around key questions…".

Common error

Avoid using "it was" with plural nouns like "questions". The correct form is "there were". For example, instead of saying "it was questions that bothered her", say "there were questions that bothered her".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was questions" functions as an introductory segment intended to highlight that the topic involved inquiries. However, Ludwig AI indicates that this construction is grammatically incorrect in standard English. Proper alternatives include "there were questions".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "it was questions" appears in some sources like The New York Times and The Economist, it's grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. The accurate alternative is "there were questions". Use "there were questions" or other alternatives for better clarity and correctness, especially in formal writing. Remember to avoid this construction to maintain credibility in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

there were questions

Replaces the ungrammatical "it was" with the correct "there were" to indicate the existence of questions.

questions arose

Uses a verb to describe the questions coming up, making it more direct and grammatically sound.

the questions were

Emphasizes the questions as the subject and adds descriptive information to the questions.

the inquiry involved

Shifts focus from individual questions to the overall inquiry and what it contained.

the discussion included questions

Focuses on discussion and clarifies it as inclusive of questions, altering the original phrase's emphasis.

the matter concerned questions

Highlights the core issue involving questions needing answers.

issues were raised

Instead of direct questions, uses 'issues' to make it less conversational and more formal.

the probe focused on questions

Introduces a sense of investigation or examination, with questions as the focus.

queries were made

Queries is a more formal synonym for questions.

several questions came up

Indicates the emergence or unplanned nature of questions.

FAQs

What's a correct alternative to the phrase "it was questions"?

A grammatically sound alternative to "it was questions" is "there were questions". This construction properly reflects the plural nature of "questions".

How can I use "there were questions" in a sentence?

You might say, "There were questions about the budget during the meeting," or "There were questions regarding the new policy".

Is "it was questions" ever appropriate in formal writing?

No, "it was questions" is not appropriate for formal writing. Use alternatives like "there were questions" to maintain grammatical accuracy.

What's the difference between "it was question" and "it was questions"?

"It was question" is grammatically incorrect. "It was questions" is also incorrect because "it was" should not be used with a plural noun. Use "there was a question" instead of "it was question", and "there were questions" instead of "it was questions".