it was wasted

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was wasted" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation where something was not used effectively or was squandered, often referring to time, resources, or opportunities. Example: "After spending hours on the project without any progress, I realized that it was wasted effort."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Sports

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

Perhaps it was about politics, but it was wasted time".

The Guardian - Sport

When they cooled down, it was wasted, used up to fuel their muscles.

The New York Times - Health

As elsewhere, much of it was wasted or stolen.Mr Nyerere did not want socialism from above on the Soviet model.

The Economist

Worse, he didn't know why Rene wanted him off the project, so as a learning opportunity, it was wasted.

Harvard Business Review

But it was wasted effort and those naive days are long past – as Theresa May secretly knows better than anyone.

The Guardian - Opinion

But hard though Raúl tried to set up his other new partner, Karim Benzema, it was wasted.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

It's wasted energy.

The New York Times

In other words, it's wasted money.

The New York Times

It's wasted real estate.

Harvard Business Review

At the moment it is wasted.

The Guardian

And it is wasted, as everyone knows.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing something that has been inefficiently used, consider replacing 'it' with a more specific term, for instance, “the money was wasted” instead of “it was wasted”, as the former adds clarity.

Common error

While "it was wasted" is grammatically sound, overuse of passive voice can make your writing sound weak. Try rephrasing to use an active voice for a more direct and impactful statement. For example, instead of "it was wasted by the team", consider "the team wasted it".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was wasted" primarily functions as a statement indicating that something was not used effectively or was squandered. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a common construction for expressing inefficiency or loss. Many examples provided show this use in different contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Formal & Business

14%

Lifestyle

8%

Less common in

Sports

8%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was wasted" is a versatile and grammatically sound expression used to convey that something has not been utilized effectively or has been squandered. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in various contexts, primarily within News & Media, Formal & Business, and Lifestyle domains. While there are alternatives like ""it was squandered"" or ""it was futile"", the choice depends on the nuance you wish to convey. When writing, be mindful of overuse of passive voice and consider more specific wording to enhance clarity. Therefore, understand its implications to ensure precise communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was squandered

Emphasizes a careless loss or waste, often of resources or opportunities.

it was futile

Highlights the pointlessness of an action or effort, suggesting it achieved nothing.

it was unproductive

Focuses on the lack of positive results or output from an activity.

it was a loss

Indicates that something was lost or not gained, implying a negative outcome.

it was all for naught

Stresses that all efforts were in vain and yielded no results.

it was in vain

Similar to "it was all for naught", but slightly less emphatic.

it was fruitless

Indicates a lack of positive results, similar to "it was unproductive".

it was ineffective

Highlights the lack of impact or effect of an action or effort.

it was a dead loss

Emphasizes the complete and irreversible nature of the loss.

it was unavailing

Suggests that efforts were made but did not achieve the desired outcome.

FAQs

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

You can use "it was wasted" to describe a situation where something was not used effectively or was squandered. For example, "After spending hours on the project without any progress, I realized that "it was wasted" effort."

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

You can use alternatives like "it was squandered", "it was futile", or "it was unproductive" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "it was wasted" or "it was squandered"?

Both phrases are correct, but ""it was squandered"" emphasizes a more careless or reckless loss than ""it was wasted"".

What does "it was wasted on me" mean?

The phrase "it was wasted on me" means that something (e.g., talent, effort, a gift) was not appreciated or properly utilized by the speaker. It suggests that the speaker was not the right recipient or did not have the ability to make the most of it.