it was realised

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was realised" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something has been understood or acknowledged, often in a reflective or retrospective context. Example: "After much discussion, it was realised that the project needed a new direction to succeed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It is thought unlikely the Premier League will take action because the offer was withdrawn promptly once it was realised the payments would have broken its rules.

BBC

It was realised that soils, as archives, contain much more information than generally utilised.

CATENA

Later it was realised that this had nothing to do with microgravity.

The Economist

But then it was realised that the figures could be released monthly without collecting more data.

Independent

The breakthrough in understanding the condition came when it was realised that this is not true.

The Economist

The Typhoons returned to base when it was realised the incident was not terrorism-related.

Independent

Last March, it was realised that a piece of "anonymous" music was actually by Handel.

The Guardian - Tech

Two years ago it was realised that the house was decaying fast.

The Guardian

It wasn't until Gallileo looked at an area of it with his telescope in the 1600s that it was realised that the Milky Way was made up of thousands of individual stars, and it was even later that it was realised that what we are looking at is an edge on view of our own galaxy, one of billions in the universe.

Cornell University

McGlone said the fence, even if it was realised, would do little to help the endangered species.

The Guardian

It was realised I could draw at some point and I left school early and went to Liverpool art school.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Maintain a formal tone by using "it was realised" in academic and professional writing to convey objectivity and distance.

Common error

Avoid using "it was realised" excessively in casual conversations or informal writing; opt for more direct and simpler phrasing like "we understood" or "I realized" to maintain a natural and engaging tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was realised" functions as a passive construction, indicating a shift in understanding or awareness. It's commonly used to introduce a new comprehension or recognition of a fact, situation, or idea, as demonstrated by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

40%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Wiki

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it was realised" is a common passive construction used to indicate a past understanding or discovery. According to Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and suitable for formal contexts such as news, science, and academic writing. While it can be replaced with alternatives like "it became apparent" or "it was understood", "it was realised" maintains a neutral to formal tone and is widely used in authoritative sources like the BBC and The Guardian. It's important to avoid overuse in informal settings, where more direct phrasing may be preferable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it became apparent

Replaces 'realised' with 'apparent', emphasizing the clarity of the understanding.

it was understood

Substitutes 'realised' with 'understood', focusing on comprehension.

it was discovered

Replaces 'realised' with 'discovered', highlighting the act of finding something out.

it was recognized

Changes 'realised' to 'recognized', stressing acknowledgment of a fact or truth.

it dawned on someone that

Shifts to a more idiomatic expression, indicating a sudden understanding.

the realization came that

Emphasizes the arrival of a realization, a more formal and emphatic way to express the idea.

the truth emerged that

Highlights the emergence of a truth, often implying something previously hidden.

people came to understand

Focuses on a group's gradual comprehension of something.

it became known that

Highlights the dissemination of information or awareness.

the penny dropped

Uses an informal idiom to convey a moment of sudden understanding.

FAQs

What does "it was realised" mean?

"It was realised" means that something became understood or known. It indicates a moment of comprehension or awareness, often retrospectively.

What can I say instead of "it was realised"?

You can use alternatives like "it became apparent", "it was understood", or "it was discovered" depending on the specific context.

Is "it was realised" formal or informal?

"It was realised" tends to be more formal. In informal contexts, simpler phrases like "I realized" or "we understood" might be more appropriate.

How to use "it was realised" in a sentence?

Use "it was realised" to introduce a new understanding or awareness. For example: "After further analysis, "it was realised" that the initial assumptions were incorrect."