it was yesterday

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence "it was yesterday" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that an incident happened on the previous day. For example: John said he was feeling unwell, and it was revealed that it was because he had eaten something bad the day before - it was yesterday.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

And, it was yesterday.

The New York Times

"Seriously, it was yesterday".

The New York Times - Sports

Like it was yesterday.

The New York Times

It was like it was yesterday.

Independent

I remember it like it was yesterday.

The New York Times

I still remember like it was yesterday".

The New York Times

It was yesterday; it is not today.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

It was early August, 1954.

Forbes

(Hint: it was last year).

The New York Times

It was last Monday.

The New York Times

It was summer camp.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was yesterday" to clearly and concisely indicate that an event occurred on the preceding day, providing a direct and easily understood timeframe for the listener or reader.

Common error

Ensure clarity by avoiding the use of "yesterday" when the timeframe might be ambiguous or span across multiple days. Be specific about the date or day if necessary to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was yesterday" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, specifying when an event or state occurred. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, supporting its function in indicating a past time frame.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Social Media

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was yesterday" serves as a clear and direct way to indicate that something happened on the day before the current day. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While alternatives like "it happened just yesterday" and "it took place the previous day" exist, "it was yesterday" remains a straightforward and frequently used phrase to denote recent events.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it happened just yesterday

Emphasizes the immediacy and recentness of the event.

that occurred only yesterday

Formal variation emphasizing the single day timeframe.

it took place the previous day

More descriptive and less conversational than the original.

that was just the day before

Offers a slightly more informal and explanatory tone.

it all went down yesterday

Colloquial and emphasizes the unfolding of events.

it feels like only yesterday

Highlights the vividness of the memory despite the passage of time.

as recent as yesterday

Focuses on the recency of the event in comparison to the present.

it was a mere day ago

Emphasizes the short amount of time that has passed.

only 24 hours ago

More specific and literal about the time frame.

it seems only like yesterday

Expresses a sense of nearness to the past event.

FAQs

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

You can use "it was yesterday" to indicate that something occurred on the day preceding the current day. For example, "The package arrived late; it was yesterday, not today".

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

You can use alternatives like "it happened just yesterday", "it took place the previous day", or "that occurred only yesterday" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "it was on yesterday"?

No, it is grammatically incorrect to say "it was on yesterday". The correct phrasing is "it was yesterday".

What is the difference between "it was yesterday" and "it was the day before"?

"It was yesterday" directly refers to the day immediately preceding the present day. "It was the day before" is less specific and typically requires further context, for example "It was the day before my birthday".