it was varying

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was varying" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation or condition that was changing or fluctuating over time. Example: "The temperature throughout the day was varying, making it difficult to decide what to wear."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

KHATCHADOURIAN: A maritime law expert was quoted in a New Zealand paper saying: "The Shonan Maru 2 should be giving way to the Ady Gil because it's on the starboard side, and what seems to be the allegation of the Shonan Maru 2 is that the Ady Gil failed to keep its course and speed, it was varying its speed.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

If time is varying, then the very standard by which it is varying also varies.

Huffington Post

Alpha, therefore, is not changing with time; it is varying through space.

The Economist

While the company is still showing only one view at a time, it is varying the shots as the top kill effort progresses, including showing the pipe carrying mud into the blowout preventer and various leak points.

The New York Times

The conductivity more or less stable during fairweather days and it is varying during meteorologically disturbed days.

Earth, Planets and Space

While the IF in the case of open cracks remains unchanged during vibration, it is varying when there is a presence of breathing cracks.

Engineering Structures

Hence, the ridgelet transform is the application of the 1-D wavelet transforms to the slices of the Radon transform where the angular variable θ is constant and it is varying.

Human-centric Computing and Information Sciences

But those claims tend to be controversial, she said, because observations suggest that it's varying in abundance on a very quick time scale, which is unexpected.

Huffington Post

The artists, by redrawing and layering a simulated physical space, hint at the "upkeep" of the underlying architecture of the work itself, and comment on the subjectivity of the act of looking and it's varying degrees of awareness".

Vice

As a result, potential batch effects were confounded with sample effects (i.e., if the platforms were varying in performance through time, it might easily appear as if it were varying in response to different samples).

Analytical Chemistry

Its relatively stable factorial structure gives a basis to explore the way it is varying or not in the seven dimensions among people of different ages.

BMC Geriatrics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it was varying", ensure the context clearly indicates what "it" refers to and the nature of the variation. For example: "The temperature was varying throughout the day."

Common error

Avoid using "it was varying" without a clear antecedent. Ensure the subject is explicitly stated to prevent confusion. For example, instead of "It was varying", specify "The price was varying".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was varying" functions as a verb phrase in the past continuous tense. It describes an action or state that was in progress at a specific time in the past. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was varying" is a grammatically sound verb phrase used to describe a state of ongoing change in the past. According to Ludwig, its usage spans across varied contexts, including news, science, and general writing. While alternatives like "it was fluctuating" or "it was changing" exist, the choice depends on the intended nuance. A key consideration is ensuring clarity by explicitly stating what "it" refers to, thus preventing ambiguity. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is valid and understandable in English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was fluctuating

This alternative replaces "varying" with "fluctuating", indicating irregular shifts up and down.

it was changing

This alternative uses the more general term "changing", implying a shift without specifying the nature of the change.

it showed variation

This rephrases the sentence to emphasize that variation existed.

it was differing

This emphasizes differences observed at various points in time.

it was alternating

This suggests a regular pattern of switching between two or more states.

it was modifying

This implies a transformation or alteration over time.

it was evolving

This indicates a gradual development or progression.

it was transforming

This suggests a significant and dramatic change.

it presented changes

The noun “changes” replaces the verb “varying,” making it more static than dynamic.

it was inconstant

Highlights the lack of stability or predictability.

FAQs

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

Use "it was varying" to describe something that changed or fluctuated over a period of time. For example: "The signal strength it was varying depending on the location."

What's a good alternative to "it was varying"?

Alternatives include "it was fluctuating", "it was changing", or "it was differing". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "it was varying" grammatically correct?

Yes, "it was varying" is grammatically correct. It uses the past continuous tense to describe a state of change over time. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable.

How does "it was varying" differ from "it varied"?

"It was varying" (past continuous) implies an ongoing process of change, while "it varied" (simple past) suggests a completed action of changing. For example, "The price was varying throughout the day" suggests continuous fluctuation, while "The price varied" indicates that it changed at some point.