it was somewhat

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was somewhat" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express a degree of uncertainty or moderation regarding a statement or situation. Example: "The movie was somewhat entertaining, but it didn't quite meet my expectations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But it was somewhat difficult.

The New York Times - Magazine

It was somewhat controversial.

The Guardian - Sport

It was somewhat inspirational".

The New York Times

It was somewhat true.

The New Yorker

It was somewhat trial and error".

The New York Times

It was somewhat of a daze.

The New York Times

"It was somewhat of a revenge game".

The New York Times

It was somewhat grudging at first.

The New York Times

It was, somewhat surprisingly, a fair point.

Independent

Granted, it was somewhat obscure.

The New Yorker

"It was somewhat of a roller coaster.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was somewhat" to express a moderate degree or quality without being overly assertive. This adds nuance and avoids making overly strong claims. For example, "The presentation was somewhat lengthy, but informative."

Common error

Avoid relying too heavily on "it was somewhat" in your writing. Vary your language by using more specific adjectives or adverbs to describe the degree or quality you intend to convey, such as "slightly", "moderately", or "relatively".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was somewhat" functions as a modifier, specifically an adverbial phrase that qualifies a statement. It indicates a degree of something, softening the assertion. Ludwig examples show its use across various contexts to express a moderate level of a characteristic or situation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

86%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was somewhat" is a versatile modifier used to express a moderate degree or quality. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound and appears frequently in various contexts, especially in news and media. When writing, use "it was somewhat" to add nuance and avoid making overly strong claims. However, be mindful of overuse and consider using more specific adjectives or adverbs for variety. Related phrases like "it was rather" or "it was a bit" can offer similar levels of moderation. The phrase maintains a neutral register and provides a way to qualify statements without being overly assertive.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was rather

Replaces "somewhat" with "rather", indicating a similar level of moderation but with a slightly more formal tone.

it was slightly

Replaces "somewhat" with "slightly", indicating a minor degree or extent.

it was a bit

Substitutes "somewhat" with "a bit", offering a more informal and casual alternative.

it was a little

Replaces "somewhat" with "a little", providing a more concise and informal expression.

it was quite

Uses "quite" instead of "somewhat" to express a similar degree of qualification, often implying a slightly higher degree.

it was fairly

Replaces "somewhat" with "fairly", indicating a moderate degree of something.

it was moderately

Substitutes "somewhat" with "moderately", providing a more formal and precise quantification.

it was relatively

Substitutes "somewhat" with "relatively", to express an evaluation in comparison to something else.

it was kind of

Offers a more colloquial alternative using "kind of" to express a similar sentiment.

it was marginally

Uses "marginally" instead of "somewhat" to suggest a very small degree or difference.

FAQs

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

Use "it was somewhat" to express a moderate degree of something. For example, "The movie "it was somewhat entertaining", but not great".

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

You can use alternatives like "it was rather", "it was a bit", or "it was slightly" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "it was somewhat difficult" or "it was very difficult"?

Both are grammatically correct, but they convey different meanings. "It was somewhat difficult" implies a moderate level of difficulty, while "it was very difficult" indicates a high level of difficulty. Choose the phrase that accurately reflects the situation.

What's the difference between "it was somewhat" and "it was partially"?

"It was somewhat" generally refers to a degree or quality, while "it was partially" implies that only a part of something is true or complete. For example, "it was somewhat helpful" suggests it provided some assistance, whereas "it was partially completed" means only a portion of it is finished.