it was wasteful

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was wasteful" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing actions, decisions, or situations that resulted in unnecessary use of resources, time, or effort. Example: "After reviewing the project, I realized that it was wasteful to allocate so many funds to marketing without a clear strategy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Congressman Daniel Webster, a Republican from Florida who voted to eliminate the survey, argued that it "tramples on personal privacy," and that spending taxpayer dollars on it was "wasteful," according to a statement provided by Kelly Kwas, a spokeswoman.

The New York Times

In 1984, the Reagan administration withdrew from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, complaining that it was wasteful, poorly managed and a stage for anti-Western propaganda.

The New York Times

Rebranding recieved a similar response, with 72% of people saying it was wasteful for charities to spend money on changing their name, logo or look, and just 9% saying they felt it was worthwhile.

The Guardian

But even critics who believe that the president's stimulus law was a missed opportunity — from liberals who say it was too small to conservatives who say it was wasteful and poorly targeted — tend to acknowledge what the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has found: that it did save or create jobs, lower the unemployment rate and help the economy grow in the short term.

The New York Times

And even critics who consider the president's stimulus package a missed opportunity — from liberals who say it was too small to conservatives who say it was wasteful and poorly targeted — tend to acknowledge what the Congressional Budget Office has found: it did save and create jobs, lower unemployment and help the economy grow in the short term.

The New York Times

The review of "White Bread," by Aaron Bobrow-Strain (July 1), reminded me that during World War II the British government forbade the production of white bread because it was wasteful and mandated instead production of a National Loaf, which incorporated the wheat germ, essentially what we now call whole wheat bread.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

It's wasteful.

The New York Times

The critique of that is, one, that it's wasteful.

The New York Times

It's wasteful overhead, it's expensive and it's noxious.

The New York Times - Magazine

"It is wasteful and it is driving up property taxes every year".

The New York Times

Critics say it is wasteful and does little to assist the poor.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When criticizing a policy or expenditure, use "it was wasteful" to emphasize that resources were used inefficiently or unnecessarily. Provide specific examples to support your claim and avoid generalizations.

Common error

Avoid simply stating "it was wasteful" without providing details. Explain why something was wasteful by pointing out the specific resources that were misused or the lack of results achieved. For example, instead of "The project was wasteful", try "The project was wasteful because it allocated significant funds to marketing without a clear strategy, resulting in minimal impact."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was wasteful" functions as a subjective commentary or judgment, expressing a negative evaluation of a past action, decision, or situation. Ludwig examples show it typically introduces a clause explaining why something is considered inefficient or unproductive.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was wasteful" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to criticize past actions or decisions for their inefficient or unnecessary use of resources. Ludwig's analysis highlights its frequent use in News & Media and Science contexts. When using this phrase, it is important to provide specific details to support your claim. Alternatives include "it was inefficient" or "it was a waste". Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was a waste

A more concise way to express that something was not worth the resources used.

it was a poor use of resources

Directly addresses the misallocation of resources.

it was unproductive

Emphasizes the lack of positive results or output.

it was inefficient

Highlights the ineffective use of resources or time.

it was not worthwhile

Highlights the lack of benefit or value in relation to the effort or cost.

it was fruitless

Focuses on the lack of success or positive outcome despite effort.

it was needless

Suggests that something was unnecessary and therefore wasteful.

it was pointless

Highlights the lack of purpose or value in an action or decision.

it was an extravagance

Suggests that something was unnecessarily elaborate or costly.

it was unavailing

Emphasizes that the effort or action was ineffective and did not achieve the desired result.

FAQs

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

You can use alternatives like "it was inefficient", "it was a waste", or "it was unproductive" depending on the context.

How do I use "it was wasteful" in a sentence?

Use "it was wasteful" to describe something that used resources inefficiently or unnecessarily. For example: "Spending taxpayer dollars on that project, "it was wasteful" because the project delivered no tangible benefits."

What's the difference between "it was wasteful" and "it was expensive"?

"It was expensive" means something cost a lot of money, while ""it was wasteful"" means resources were used poorly or unnecessarily, even if the initial cost wasn't high. Something can be expensive without being wasteful, and vice versa.

Is it better to say "it is wasteful" or "it was wasteful"?

Use "it is wasteful" to describe something that is currently happening or a general truth. Use ""it was wasteful"" to describe something that happened in the past. For example, "Spending money without a budget, "it is wasteful"." vs. "The previous marketing campaign, "it was wasteful" and yielded no new customers."