it was really

USAGE SUMMARY

"it was really" is a grammatically correct and commonly used part of a sentence in written English.
It is usually used to add emphasis or express strong emotion. Example: "I was so nervous to give my presentation, but it was really well-received by the audience." In this sentence, "it was really" emphasizes the success or positive outcome of the presentation.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It was really early.

Harvard University

It was really informational!

Cornell University

It was really painful.

University of California, Berkeley

It was really helpful.

Cornell University

It was really quick.

Cornell University

It was really traumatic.

Harvard University

"It was really exciting.

Cornell University

"It was really windy.

The New Yorker

It was really gross".

The New Yorker

It was really easy.

The New York Times - Sports

It was really sweet".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was really" to add emphasis to a statement, conveying a sense of surprise, strong emotion, or significance.

Common error

Avoid using "really" excessively in your writing. While it can add emphasis, overuse can weaken its impact and make your writing sound less sophisticated. Try using stronger adjectives or adverbs instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was really" functions as an intensifier, adding emphasis to the adjective that follows. Ludwig AI shows that the phrase is commonly used to express strong feelings or opinions about something.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Academia

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it was really" serves as a common and grammatically correct intensifier used to add emphasis to adjectives. Ludwig AI confirms its prevalence across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While generally neutral in register, it's advisable to use more formal alternatives like "it was genuinely" or "it was incredibly" in professional settings. Be mindful of overuse to maintain impact and sophistication in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was genuinely

Replaces "really" with "genuinely", emphasizing authenticity.

it was truly

Uses "truly" instead of "really" to convey sincerity and factuality.

it was exceptionally

Substitutes "really" with "exceptionally", increasing the level of intensity.

it was incredibly

Replaces "really" with "incredibly" to indicate a high degree of surprise or amazement.

it was remarkably

Employs "remarkably" instead of "really", pointing out something noteworthy.

it was surprisingly

Uses "surprisingly" instead of "really" to highlight unexpectedness.

it was exceptionally

Emphasizes the intensity using the adverb exceptionally.

it was extraordinarily

Emphasizes the intensity using the adverb extraordinarily.

it proved to be

This changes the structure slightly to indicate the end result or consequence of a particular action.

it turned out to be

Expresses the final outcome or situation, often unexpectedly.

FAQs

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

Use "it was really" to emphasize an adjective or adverb, for example, "It was really exciting" or "It was really difficult".

What are some alternatives to "it was really"?

You can use alternatives like "it was genuinely", "it was truly", or "it was incredibly" to express similar ideas with different nuances.

Which is correct, "it was really good" or "it was very good"?

Both "it was really good" and "it was very good" are grammatically correct. The choice depends on the desired level of emphasis. "Really" often implies a greater degree of surprise or intensity than "very".

Is "it was really" formal or informal?

"It was really" is generally considered informal. In more formal contexts, consider using alternatives such as "it was exceptionally" or "it was remarkably".