it was starts

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was starts" is not correct in written English.
It appears to be a grammatical error, possibly a confusion between "it was" and "it starts." Example: "It starts to rain every afternoon during the summer."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"It was starting to happen.

The New York Times

It was starting to get scary.

The New York Times

Now it was starting to get dark.

The New Yorker

And it was starting to drizzle.

The New York Times

"It was starting to move," he recalled.

The New Yorker

It was started in a garage.

The Economist

It was starting to feel like fun.

The New York Times - Tech

It was starting to get dark.

The New Yorker

It was starting to look ominous.

The Guardian - Sport

It was starting to change then.

The Guardian - Sport

It was starting to sound familiar!

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "it was starts" in formal writing. Instead, opt for grammatically correct alternatives such as "it was starting" or "it started".

Common error

Ensure correct verb conjugation by distinguishing between past tense ("it started") and past continuous tense ("it was starting"). Using "starts" after "was" is a common grammatical error.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was starts" is grammatically incorrect and does not function as a coherent phrase in standard English. As Ludwig AI indicates, this appears to be a grammatical error. The correct usage would involve using either the past continuous tense ("it was starting") or the simple past tense ("it started").

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was starts" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in formal writing. As Ludwig AI states, this is likely a confusion between "it was" and "it starts". Correct alternatives include using "it was starting" to indicate an ongoing process or "it started" to indicate a completed action. Due to its incorrectness, "it was starts" has no established usage patterns or authoritative sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was beginning

Replaces the incorrect "starts" with the continuous form "beginning" to indicate an ongoing action in the past.

it was commencing

Substitutes "starts" with the more formal "commencing", maintaining the past continuous tense.

it started

Changes the structure to a simple past tense, indicating a completed action of starting.

it began

Similar to "it started", but uses a different verb with the same meaning in the simple past tense.

it initiated

Replaces "starts" with "initiated", offering a more formal alternative in the simple past tense.

it was getting underway

Provides an idiomatic expression indicating that something was in the process of starting.

it was in its initial phase

Rephrases to describe something being in the early stages, rather than directly starting.

its initiation was underway

Restructures the sentence to focus on the initiation process rather than the simple act of starting.

the commencement was happening

Uses "commencement" as a noun to describe the event of starting, adding a layer of formality.

the kickoff was underway

Offers a more specific term, "kickoff", implying the start of an event or process.

FAQs

What's the correct way to express something that was beginning?

The correct way to express something that was beginning is to use "it was starting" or "it began" depending on whether you want to emphasize the ongoing process or the completed action.

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

Instead of "it was starts", which is grammatically incorrect, you can use phrases like "it was beginning", "it started", or "it commenced".

Is "it was starts" grammatically correct?

No, "it was starts" is not grammatically correct. The correct form would be "it was starting", using the past continuous tense, or "it started", using the simple past tense.

What is the difference between "it was starting" and "it started"?

"It was starting" indicates an ongoing action in the past, while "it started" indicates a completed action in the past. The continuous form emphasizes the process, whereas the simple past focuses on the event.