it was so when

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was so when" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in a context where you are trying to indicate that something was true at a specific time or under certain conditions. Example: "It was so when the sun set, casting a golden hue over the landscape."

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

It was so when John F. Kennedy ran for president, and it is so for Mitt Romney.

The New York Times

It was so when a murmur rose at the notion that a 47-year-old woman was going to lay claim to having not only a point but a gift.

The Guardian

It may be hard to believe that it was so, when nowadays we mostly ingest our drugs from prescription bottles, early in the morning or late at night — but it existed, and was as alluring as it was utterly toxic.

The New Yorker

"People's attention span isn't what it was, so when you can tell a story and get people intrigued in under a half-hour, I think you are doing something great".

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

But I know it is so when I see winter pansies, who most certainly smile.

Huffington Post

Although the concept of a gift may not at first seem to fit well with free-market capitalism, it might be so when it is thought of in the context of collaborating with others to build common commodity-like infrastructure.

Innovation Happens Elsewhere Open Source as Business Strategy

Therefore, (35) is not necessarily worse than (21), though it will be so when source correlation is high.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

"It was so heartbreaking when it ended, and when [his follow-up] Undeclared ended," he admits.

The Guardian - Film

When people say, "It was so young when you joined the group," I was protected.

Huffington Post

"When my dad passed away, I inherited his dog and it was so heartbreaking when it passed away," she said.

Los Angeles Times

"It was so fine when I saw it first".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it was so when", ensure the context clearly establishes what "it" refers to. For clarity, consider rephrasing to specify the subject directly. For example, instead of "It was so when John F. Kennedy ran for president", write "Making religion an issue in a political campaign was so when John F. Kennedy ran for president".

Common error

Avoid using "it was so when" if the referent of "it" is unclear or ambiguous. Unclear pronoun references can confuse readers and weaken the impact of your statement. Always ensure that "it" has a clear and immediate antecedent.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was so when" functions as a temporal connector, linking a past state or condition to a specific point in time or event. Ludwig examples show it used to draw parallels between past and present situations. Ludwig AI suggests it is not standard in written English and could cause confusion.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it was so when" serves as a temporal connector, linking a past state to a specific time. While grammatically acceptable, Ludwig AI suggests it is somewhat uncommon and potentially vague, making more precise phrasing preferable in formal contexts. The phrase appears primarily in news and media sources, with limited occurrences in scientific articles. For clarity, ensure the pronoun "it" has a clear referent. When writing, consider alternatives like "it was the case when" for a more formal tone or specifying the subject directly to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was the case when

Substitutes "was so" with "was the case", providing a more formal and direct statement of a past condition.

it happened that way when

Replaces "was so" with "happened that way", emphasizing the occurrence of an event under certain circumstances.

it was valid when

Implies that something was true or applicable within a specific timeframe.

that's how it was when

Uses "that's how it was" to convey a similar meaning but with a more colloquial tone.

it used to be when

Highlights a past habit or state using "used to be", indicating something that was true in the past but isn't necessarily now.

that was the situation when

Describes the overall circumstances at a particular time using a more descriptive approach.

things were like that when

Emphasizes the state of affairs at a specific time with a more descriptive approach.

it existed then when

Focuses on the existence of something at a particular time, rather than a state of being.

it obtained when

A formal alternative that suggests a condition or rule was in effect at a specific time.

it prevailed when

Replaces "was so" with "prevailed" indicating that something was widespread or generally accepted during a certain period.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "it was so when" to improve clarity?

To improve clarity, replace "it was so when" with more specific phrases such as "it was the case when", "that's how it was when", or directly state the condition that existed at the time. This helps avoid ambiguity.

Is "it was so when" grammatically correct?

While not incorrect, "it was so when" can sound somewhat informal or vague. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is acceptable. More formal alternatives may be preferable in academic or professional writing.

What does "it was so when" mean?

"It was so when" means that something was true or a certain way at a particular time or under specific circumstances. It connects a past state with a condition or event.

Are there situations where "it was so when" is the best choice of words?

In informal contexts or when aiming for a nostalgic or reflective tone, "it was so when" can be appropriate. However, for precision and clarity, consider using alternatives like "that was the situation when" or specifying the subject of "it" directly.