it was running

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was running" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an action that was occurring in the past, often referring to a machine, a program, or a person in motion. Example: "When I arrived at the park, I noticed that it was running smoothly, with all the equipment in good condition."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

And it was running away.

The New Yorker

It was running budget surpluses.

The New York Times

It was running again at 8 a.m.

The New York Times - Tech

It was running with the people.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It was running that captured him.

The New York Times

That is to say, it was running late.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

And it was running and running, and supper was khobayzeh.

Columbia University

"Nine months later it was running four to one against".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

Whoever it was ran away".

The New Yorker

"It was run and gun.

The New York Times - Sports

It was run again.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was running" to describe equipment or machinery that was in operation at a particular time. For instance, "The engine was running when I checked, so I turned it off."

Common error

Avoid using "it was run" when you mean "it was running." The former implies a passive voice where something was acted upon, while the latter indicates an ongoing process or state.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was running" functions as a verb phrase in the past continuous tense. It indicates an action or process that was in progress at a specific time in the past. This is confirmed by Ludwig AI, which validates the grammatical correctness of the expression.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it was running" is a grammatically sound and versatile phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, used to describe actions or processes in progress at a specific time in the past. It is most commonly found in news and media contexts, as well as in academic and scientific writing. To ensure clarity, it is important to use the correct tense and avoid confusing it with passive voice constructions like "it was run". When appropriate, consider using synonyms such as "it was operating" or "it was functioning" for more formal or technical contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

It is currently running

Shifts the tense to the present continuous, indicating an ongoing action now.

It had been running

Uses the past perfect continuous, emphasizing the duration of the action before a specific time in the past.

It is in operation

Replaces "running" with a more formal synonym, focusing on the functional state.

It was functioning

Similar to "in operation", but emphasizes the process of functioning.

It was operating

Synonymous with "functioning", but slightly more common in technical contexts.

It was underway

Indicates that something was in progress or happening.

It was proceeding

Implies a forward movement or progression in a process or activity.

It continued to run

Emphasizes the continuation of the running action.

It remained active

Focuses on the state of being active or in operation.

It ticked over

Suggests a state of minimal activity or ticking sound, usually to define how an engine works.

FAQs

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

You can use "it was running" to describe a process, machine, or system that was in operation at a specific time in the past. For example, "The program "it was running" flawlessly before the update".

What are some alternatives to "it was running"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "it was operating", "it was functioning", or "it was in progress".

Is there a difference between "it was running" and "it had been running"?

"It was running" describes a continuous action in the past. "It had been running" indicates that the action had been in progress for some time before another point in the past. The latter emphasizes duration before a specific time.

When is it appropriate to use "it was running" in formal writing?

The phrase ""it was running"" is suitable for formal writing when describing systems, processes, or programs. However, consider more formal alternatives like "it was operational" or "it was executing" for highly technical contexts.