it was really handy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was really handy" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that was useful or convenient in a particular situation. Example: "When I was moving, the tool I borrowed from my neighbor was really handy for assembling the furniture."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

At university it was really handy and nothing else has ever really appealed to me.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

It's really handy, early on, to nominate a single editorial point of contact for a project.

The Guardian

"Mentoring has proved to be a particularly useful method of supporting people, because in areas where are there are so few women, it's really handy to speak to someone who has had the same experiences are you.

The Guardian

It's really handy to be able to enhance your photos directly within the app, rather than waiting until you get back to your computer or relying on Google to do its magical synthetic wrinkle removal, even though it's cool.

TechCrunch

It's really handy to have a demo specialist around when you suddenly need a wire stripper in the jungle.

Vice

Even if you don't do it yourself it's really handy to have a plush box sitting under the bed.

Vice

It's really handy to keep in your beach bag.

WikiHow

If you can afford it, it is really handy to get a tailored uniform.

WikiHow

"There are times when the fact that it goes away is good — but there are other times, especially in a work context, where it would be really handy to have a conversation recorded and linkable".

The New Yorker

Once children start joining their gender gangs, the boys with the boys, girls with girls, it disappears unless there is a countervailing value system that says boys look after this emotionally rich and tender part of yourself, it will be really handy to you down the road.

The New York Times

But it would be really handy if we had somewhere that we could have a referral where we could refer them to and where they did have these exercise groups".

BMC Health Services Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was really handy" when you want to emphasize the usefulness or convenience of something in a past situation. For variety, consider synonyms like "it was extremely useful" or "it proved very convenient".

Common error

While "it was really handy" is acceptable, avoid overusing "really" as an intensifier. Vary your language with stronger adjectives or adverbs to make your writing more impactful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was really handy" functions as a declarative statement expressing that something was useful or convenient in a past context. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability, aligning with the provided examples that illustrate its application across various domains.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

50%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was really handy" is a grammatically sound and usable expression to convey that something was useful or convenient in the past. While Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, remember that it leans towards the informal side, making it suitable for casual conversations and general writing. When formality matters, opt for alternatives like "it was extremely useful" or "it proved very convenient". The phrase is most commonly found in news and media contexts, making it a versatile addition to your vocabulary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was exceptionally useful

Replaces "really handy" with a more formal and emphatic expression of usefulness.

it proved to be very convenient

Shifts the focus to the convenience aspect, highlighting how well it suited the purpose.

it was extremely practical

Emphasizes the practicality and functionality of something.

it came in quite useful

Indicates that something became useful, often unexpectedly.

it was highly beneficial

Focuses on the positive benefit or advantage provided.

it was a great asset

Highlights the value and importance of something as a helpful resource.

it was quite advantageous

Emphasizes the favorable circumstances or benefits it provided.

it was remarkably helpful

Highlights the helpfulness in a notable way.

it served its purpose well

Focuses on how effectively something fulfilled its intended function.

it provided a significant advantage

Highlights the substantial advantage that it offered.

FAQs

What does "it was really handy" mean?

The phrase "it was really handy" means that something was very useful or convenient in a particular situation. It indicates that the thing in question made a task easier or more efficient.

What can I say instead of "it was really handy"?

You can use alternatives like "it was very useful", "it was quite convenient", or "it proved helpful" depending on the specific context.

Is "it was really handy" formal or informal?

The phrase "it was really handy" is generally considered informal. For more formal contexts, consider alternatives such as "it was extremely useful" or "it proved to be advantageous".

Can I use "it was really handy" to describe a person?

While you can use "handy" to describe a person who is skilled at doing practical tasks, using "it was really handy" generally refers to objects, tools, or resources, rather than people. To describe a person, you could say "he was very helpful" or "she was skillful".