it was same

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was same" is not correct in written English.
The correct form would be "it was the same." Example: "When comparing the two products, I realized it was the same in terms of quality."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

So it was same old Terry, David Wrightt said.

The New York Times - Sports

Over on Centre Court it was same old, same old from Sabine Lisicki.

Independent

When we started doing Smog, it was same kind of aggressive crowd, so we avoided fancy nights with a dress code and bottle service and went for dark, gritty basement bars.

The Guardian - Music

It was same or worse throughout the building.

University of Chicago

Two criminalists��testified at trial that it was same weapon that killed one of the victims.

Los Angeles Times

From the Cuban perspective it was "same old, same old", an agenda of regime change in modern clothing.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

It was same-o, same-o, so what".

The New York Times

Last week, the problem was Europe; this week, it was same-sex marriage.

The New York Times

It's same old, same old".

Wikipedia

There is too much expectation on this Scottish side to win games". Wales' record try-scorer Shane Williams on BBC Radio Scotland: "It was 'same old, same old' against Wales.

BBC

It was that same laugh".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct article "the" before "same" when referring to something being identical. For example, use "it was the same" instead of "it was same".

Common error

Avoid omitting the word "the" before "same" when indicating identity or equivalence. This omission results in grammatically incorrect sentences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was same" functions as an incomplete predicate nominative. Ludwig AI suggests that it is grammatically incorrect, lacking the definite article "the" before "same". The corrected form, "it was the same", properly identifies or renames the subject.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was same" is generally considered grammatically incorrect, as pointed out by Ludwig AI. The proper form is "it was the same", which is used to express equivalence or identity. While "it was same" appears in various sources, the omission of "the" renders it non-standard. For better clarity and grammatical correctness, it's advisable to use "it was the same" or alternative phrases like "it was similar" or "it was identical".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was the same

Addition of the definite article "the" makes the phrase grammatically correct, indicating an exact match or identical situation.

it was essentially the same

Highlights that the core nature or function was the same, even if details differed.

it was identical

Uses "identical" to emphasize that something was exactly alike in every aspect.

it was virtually the same

Indicates that something was almost the same, with only minor differences.

it was similar

Replaces "same" with "similar", conveying a comparable but not necessarily identical state.

it was no different

Expresses that there was no change or distinction compared to something else.

it was just alike

Emphasizes the likeness between two things.

it was of a piece

Suggests that something was consistent and coherent with something else.

it was on par

Indicates that something was equal in quality or status.

it remained consistent

Focuses on the unchanged nature of something over time.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "it was same"?

The grammatically correct way to say "it was same" is "it was the same". The addition of the definite article "the" is necessary for proper grammar.

Are there alternatives to saying "it was the same"?

Yes, depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "it was similar", "it was identical", or "it was just alike".

Is "it was same" ever appropriate to use?

No, "it was same" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. Always use "it was the same" or a suitable alternative.

What is the difference between "it was same" and "it was the same"?

"It was same" is grammatically incorrect due to the missing definite article. "It was the same" is the correct form, indicating that something remained unchanged or identical.