it was scattered

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was scattered" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that has been dispersed or spread out in a disorganized manner. Example: "After the storm, the leaves were scattered all over the yard."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

She loved the sea only for its storms, green foliage only when it was scattered amid ruins.

The Guardian - Books

"It was scattered".

The New York Times

It was scattered, without any particular direction.

The Guardian - Music

But it was scattered across hostile territory and in a fight almost everywhere it went.

The New York Times

Long ago it was scattered over agricultural fields and put in marriage beds.

The New York Times

Downstairs, there is a project space where visiting artists create new work – it was scattered with the remnants of a sound installation – which guests and the public can engage with.

The Guardian - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

It's scattered far and wide.

The New York Times

At the moment, it is scattered with pieces by Miguel Castillo, Rick Johnson, James Tyler, Robert Adzema, Jay Wholley, Anthony Krauss, James Garvey and Eric Laxman, among others.

The New York Times

It's scattered with pristine marble temples, rural villages and 1,600km of coastline.

The Guardian - Travel

"But his work is difficult to find because it is scattered in private and institutional collections.

The New York Times - Arts

One text, one people, even if it is scattered to the four ends of the earth".

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was scattered" to vividly describe the aftermath of an event that caused things to be spread around haphazardly, like "After the explosion, debris was scattered across the street."

Common error

While grammatically sound, "it was scattered" can sound less formal. In academic or professional writing, consider stronger synonyms like "it was dispersed" or "it was fragmented" for increased impact and precision.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was scattered" functions as a passive construction, describing a state resulting from a past action where something has been spread or dispersed. As seen in Ludwig's examples, this phrase is frequently used in descriptive contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

40%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Wiki

3%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it was scattered" is a grammatically sound and readily understandable way to describe a state of dispersion. Ludwig AI indicates that it's often found in news and media, as well as scientific contexts. Although perfectly valid, bear in mind that in very formal situations, opting for stronger, more precise synonyms like "dispersed" or "fragmented" might be more suitable. Remember, "it was scattered" vividly portrays a lack of order, making it a valuable tool in descriptive writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was dispersed

Replaces "scattered" with a synonym, emphasizing the act of spreading widely.

it was spread out

Uses a more descriptive phrase to convey the idea of being distributed over an area.

it was strewn

Emphasizes a careless or random distribution.

it was diffused

Suggests a gradual spreading or permeation.

it was dissipated

Implies a gradual disappearance or fading away through scattering.

it was fragmented

Focuses on the breaking apart of something into smaller pieces before scattering.

it was sprinkled

Suggests a light and even distribution.

it was broadcast

Implies a wide and public distribution, often used metaphorically.

it was disseminated

Suggests a formal or intentional spreading of information or ideas.

it was distributed

Focuses on the act of allocating or apportioning something among different locations.

FAQs

What does "it was scattered" mean?

The phrase "it was scattered" means that something was spread or distributed in a disorganized or irregular way. It implies that the object or objects were not in a neat or orderly arrangement.

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

You can use "it was scattered" to describe various situations where things are spread around randomly. For example: "The documents "it were scattered" across the desk" or "The crowd "it was scattered" after the concert".

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

You can use alternatives like "it was dispersed", "it was spread out", or "it was strewn" depending on the context.

Is "it was scattered" grammatically correct?

Yes, "it was scattered" is grammatically correct. It uses the past tense of the verb "to be" ("was") with the past participle of the verb "scatter" ("scattered"), forming a passive voice construction.