it was smelly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was smelly" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that has an unpleasant odor or scent. Example: "After the rain, the old garbage left on the street was smelly and attracted flies."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

"It was in the 90's, and it was smelly".

The New York Times

Postance describes it as "like something out of Dickens it was dirty, it was smelly".

The Guardian

/ My friend licked a horse / It was smelly, so smelly / The next day I thought my bum had broken / I thought my nose had burst into flames".

The Guardian - Tech

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

It's smelly.

The New York Times

It is smelly, horrible and antisocial.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Manure is no fun; it's smelly," said Thurston.

The Guardian

It's smelly, noisy and full of tourists trying to find Buckingham palace.

Independent

It's smelly!" a boy named Zion said, shoving floppy hair out of his face.

The New Yorker

"But if I do.... " "Will it be smelly and disgusting and full of leering, tattooed lifers?' "Probably".

The New York Times - Magazine

"It's dirty, it's smelly, it needs a lot of work," said Theresa Scavo, the chairwoman of Community Board 15, which represents the area.

The New York Times

It's dirty and time-consuming and often cold and wet – unless you go to a gym, in which case it's smelly and expensive.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a specific environment or object, use "it was smelly" to directly convey the unpleasant olfactory experience. For example, "The locker room after the game was smelly with sweat and dirty socks."

Common error

Avoid using "it was smelly" with abstract nouns that don't typically have a smell. For instance, instead of saying "The situation was smelly", opt for "The situation was suspicious" or "unpleasant".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was smelly" functions as a descriptive statement, attributing the quality of having an unpleasant odor to a specific subject. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's grammatically correct. Examples from news and media sources illustrate its direct use in describing environments and objects.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

16%

Science

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

16%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it was smelly" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase for describing something with an unpleasant odor. While it might not be suitable for formal settings, it effectively conveys the sensory experience in neutral and informal contexts. Ludwig highlights its correct usage and illustrates it with examples from reputable sources like The New York Times and The Guardian. While being a valid expression, consider expanding your vocabulary by exploring alternatives such as "it had a foul odor" or "it reeked" to provide more specific and impactful descriptions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it smelled awful

Uses a more common synonym "awful" to describe the bad smell.

it had a bad odor

Replaces "smelly" with the more formal "bad odor".

it smelled disgusting

The adjective "disgusting" emphasizes the unpleasant nature of the smell.

it reeked

Uses a stronger verb, "reeked", to emphasize the intensity of the smell.

it stank

Employs a more direct and informal verb, "stank".

it gave off a foul scent

Replaces "smelly" with "foul scent" using a more descriptive term.

it had an offensive smell

Substitutes "smelly" with "offensive smell", highlighting the unpleasantness.

it was pungent

Uses the adjective "pungent" to describe a strong and sharp smell.

it was malodorous

Replaces "smelly" with the more formal term "malodorous".

it emitted a stench

Employs "stench" to denote a particularly strong and unpleasant odor.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "it was smelly" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "it had a foul odor", "it was malodorous", or "it emitted a stench". These options use more sophisticated vocabulary to convey the same meaning.

What are some less formal alternatives to "it was smelly"?

Informal options include "it stank", "it smelled awful", or simply "it was stinky". These are more direct and suitable for casual conversation.

Is it grammatically correct to say "it was smelly"?

Yes, "it was smelly" is grammatically correct. "It" is a pronoun, "was" is a verb, and "smelly" is an adjective describing the subject. Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical correctness of the phrase.

How does the intensity of "it was smelly" compare to other similar phrases?

"It was smelly" is a general descriptor. Phrases like "it reeked" or "it emitted a stench" suggest a stronger, more offensive odor than just saying "it was smelly".