it was seeming

USAGE SUMMARY

It is not correct or usable in written English.
'Seeming' is not a form of the verb 'to be' and so it cannot be substituted for 'was'. To make it correct, you should use 'it seemed'. Example: It seemed that my plan would work, but in the end I was proven wrong.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

The line lost its linear definition, and, just as it was seeming outright dangerous, Bocuse was gone.

The New Yorker

However modest my means were, it was seeming preferable, after all, to live within them.

The New Yorker

His version of the news may have started as fake, but it was seeming more and more real all the time.

The New York Times

It was seeming as if we were in the wrong country, or the wrong century, or as if Trachimbrod had disappeared, and so had the memory of it.

The New Yorker

With thanks to my good friend 3am Wikipedia rabbit warren, this came about because at the time, every flipping thing conceivable was illegal, prisons were overcrowded, and it was seeming a bit much to hang people for nicking a few bits of Georgian tat.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

It was seeming more and more likely that a large, general purpose space-based telescope was becoming a reality.

University of Chicago

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

It's seeming the leader in the space.

TechCrunch

It's seeming more and more likely.

Huffington Post

It's seems a bit retaliatory to me".

Independent

So it is seems that there is an issue.

The Guardian - Tech

Happily, it's seems as if it's the former.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "it was seeming" in formal writing. Opt for the grammatically correct "it seemed" or other alternatives like "it appeared to be".

Common error

The progressive tense (was seeming) is generally not appropriate with the verb 'seem'. Use the simple past tense ('seemed') to express that something gave a particular impression in the past.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was seeming" functions as a verb phrase attempting to describe an appearance or impression in the past. However, according to Ludwig AI, this construction is grammatically questionable and not standard English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

71%

Academia

29%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was seeming" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided. While Ludwig provides examples of its usage, these are likely errors or non-standard constructions. The correct alternative is "it seemed", which conveys the intended meaning of something giving a particular impression in the past. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, using the simple past tense is crucial for grammatical accuracy. Better alternatives are also "it appeared to be" and "it looked like". While examples are found in News & Media and Academia, this does not legitimize the usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it seemed

Replaces the non-standard "was seeming" with the correct past tense form of "seem".

it appeared to be

Offers a more formal and precise way of expressing that something gave a particular impression.

it looked like

Provides a more informal and visually oriented way of saying that something gave a particular impression.

it gave the impression of

Emphasizes that the observation is subjective and based on an impression.

it had the appearance of

Similar to "it appeared to be", but slightly more descriptive of a visual impression.

it suggested

Implies that something hinted at or indicated a particular possibility.

it indicated

Focuses on the idea that something served as a sign or signal of a particular outcome.

it conveyed the idea

Highlights that something communicated a particular meaning or concept.

it presented itself as

Suggests that something deliberately created a certain image or impression.

it bore the hallmark of

Implies that something possessed characteristics typical of a particular thing.

FAQs

Is "it was seeming" grammatically correct?

No, "it was seeming" is not grammatically correct. The correct form is "it seemed".

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

You can use alternatives such as "it seemed", "it appeared to be", or "it looked like".

When should I use "it seemed" instead of "it was seeming"?

Always use "it seemed". The phrase "it was seeming" is not standard English.

What is the difference between "it was seeming" and "it seemed"?

"It was seeming" is grammatically incorrect, while "it seemed" is the correct past tense form to express that something gave a particular impression.