it was then why

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was then why" is not correct and usable in written English.
It seems to be a confusion of phrases and does not convey a clear meaning. Example: "It was then why I decided to change my career path."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

And if it was, then: why?

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

But if it is, then why not torture too?

The Guardian - Opinion

If suicide is a symptom of depression (it is), then why do more women suffer depression than men?

The Guardian

If it's bad for Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam to finance the LSE – which it is – then why is it all right for Libya's corporate partner, BP, to partner the British Museum too?

The Guardian - Opinion

If it is, then why is the head chopped off?

Los Angeles Times

If it is then why not start with 5 minutes and see how it goes.

Huffington Post

If you don't believe, if you're just peddling snake oil as it were, then why should they believe you?

WikiHow

And if there was, then why did it die out?

The Guardian

So if it's not the easy A I thought it was going to be, then why do I love it so much?

Huffington Post

The question is then, why?

Plosone

It was then we saw why.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "it was then why" in your writing. Instead, opt for clearer and more grammatically correct alternatives such as "that is why", "therefore", or "this is why".

Common error

Do not combine "it was then" with "why" to indicate a reason. This construction is grammatically unconventional and can confuse your readers. Always choose a more direct and standard phrasing to ensure clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was then why" functions as an attempt to connect a past event with its subsequent reason or cause. However, it deviates from standard English grammar, making it an unconventional way to express causality. As noted by Ludwig, the phrase is considered grammatically incorrect.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Wiki

15%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was then why" is grammatically incorrect and rarely used in standard English. Ludwig AI analysis confirms this assessment, highlighting its non-standard structure. While the intended purpose is to connect a past event with its cause, it is better to use alternatives such as "that is why", "this is why", or "that's when I realized" for clarity and correctness. The phrase is more likely to be found in informal contexts, but should be avoided in formal writing to maintain grammatical accuracy and avoid confusing the reader.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that's why

Emphasizes the reason or explanation for something that has just been stated.

therefore

Indicates a logical conclusion or consequence.

for that reason

Provides a clear and direct statement of cause.

this is why

Highlights the explanation for a particular situation.

that is the reason why

More formal way of stating the cause or explanation.

the reason being

Introduces an explanation in a more formal tone.

hence

Similar to therefore, indicating a consequence.

consequently

Highlights the result or outcome of a previous action.

as a result

Directly indicates the outcome of a previous action.

accordingly

Shows that something is done in response to a previous action or statement.

FAQs

What's wrong with the phrase "it was then why"?

The phrase "it was then why" is not grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to use phrases like "that is why" or "that's when I realized" to express the same idea.

What can I say instead of "it was then why"?

You can use alternatives like "that is why", "this is why", or "that's when I realized", depending on the context.

Is "it was then why" ever correct?

While the phrase "it was then why" might occasionally appear in informal speech, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect in formal writing. Sticking to standard phrasing ensures clarity and avoids confusion.

How can I improve my sentence structure to avoid using "it was then why"?

Focus on using clear and direct sentence structures. For example, instead of saying "it was then why I understood", say "that's when I understood" or "that is why I understood".