it was various

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was various" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used incorrectly as "various" is an adjective and needs a noun to modify. Example: "The options available were various, ranging from simple to complex."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

"It was various people.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Why did it take so long? A. It was various things.

The New York Times - Arts

Venables was appointed England coach in January 1994 but, while he retained various business ventures outside his day job, it was various legal proceedings – not least with the then owner of Tottenham Hotspur, Alan Sugar – which served as a regular distraction and were why the FA stressed that the new man was the coach, not the manager.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

It's various commentators".

The New York Times

The meanings attached to it were various.

Encyclopedia Britannica

As for the garbage, it is various and plentiful.

The New York Times

(Much of it is various ages of Biff, yelling threats).

The New Yorker

("You don't want to watch it being made," a waiter told me. "Let's just say it's various parts of the fish").

The New York Times - Magazine

Banking is also taken seriously, unlike the unregulated wild west of Second Life with it's various in-world ponzi schemes.

TechCrunch

Below is the system I've implemented and it's various components.

Huffington Post

People in love create legendary works of creative expression in all of it's various forms.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to describe variety, opt for grammatically sound alternatives like "there were various options" or use adjectives like "diverse" or "varied".

Common error

Avoid using "various" directly after "it was" or similar linking verbs without a noun. Instead, clarify the subject by saying "there were various reasons" or rephrase using "diverse" or "varied".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was various" is grammatically incorrect as it attempts to use the adjective "various" as a predicate adjective without a clear noun. Ludwig AI indicates its incorrect usage, reinforcing the need for a noun to be modified by "various".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

16%

Wiki

16%

Less common in

Science

18%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was various" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in standard English writing. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. It's more appropriate to use constructions like "there were various [noun]" or alternative adjectives such as "diverse" or "varied". Although the phrase appears in some contexts like news articles, its incorrect usage undermines its effectiveness in conveying the intended meaning. Therefore, always opt for grammatically sound alternatives to ensure clarity and correctness in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

there were various

Changes the subject to 'there' to create a grammatically correct construction.

it was diverse

Replaces "various" with "diverse" to correctly describe a range of different things.

it was varied

Substitutes "various" with "varied" to describe something that includes a range of different things.

it encompassed various

Rephrases to include a verb and noun to create a more comprehensive description.

it included various

Uses "included" to specify that something contains a selection of items.

it consisted of various

Replaces the verb to indicate that something is made up of different components.

it had many different

Simplifies the language to make it more accessible while maintaining a similar meaning.

it was a multitude of

Uses "multitude" to emphasize the large number of things involved.

it presented various

Highlights the act of showing or offering a range of options or items.

there existed various

Introduces existence as the key concept, modifying the perspective.

FAQs

What are some grammatically correct ways to use the word "various"?

You can use "various" correctly by placing it before a noun, such as "various options" or "various reasons". Alternatively, use adjectives like "diverse" or "varied" to describe something.

Is it ever correct to say "it was various"?

No, "it was various" is not grammatically correct in standard English. "Various" is an adjective and needs a noun to modify. Consider rephrasing to "there were various..." followed by the noun.

What's the difference between saying "it was varied" and "it was various"?

"It was varied" is grammatically correct and means that something included a range of different things. "It was various" is not standard English; use "there were various..." instead.

Can I use synonyms for "various" to avoid grammatical errors?

Yes, using synonyms such as "diverse", "varied", or "multiple" can help you avoid grammatical errors. Ensure the sentence structure is correct with the chosen synonym.