that was him

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "that was him" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to identify or confirm someone's presence or action in a past situation. Example: "When I saw the video of the event, I realized that was him who made the winning goal."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Fatherly -- that was him, his wife's girlfriends said.

The New York Times

(Yes, that was him in a cameo in the 2011 movie "The Muppets").

The New York Times

"He did great," said BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL, "and I didn't know that was him until afterward.

The New York Times

A big smile, a kiss, and a warm embrace: that was him.

The New York Times

"If I have that, it's like I have him, because that was him those years," she said.

The New York Times - Magazine

It took him three more to get on the green and that was him consigned to third place.

The Guardian - Sport

"He wasn't exactly a role model, because of the drinking, but if you had an ideal drunk, that was him".

The New York Times

"It all just clicked -- that was him," Mr. Shipman said Monday at a news conference with his lawyer.

The New York Times

"God, if that was him trying to be nice… I just thought he was a vile slimeball.

The Guardian

"Then I'm afraid he's dead as well," I said, "if that was him".

Vice

That was 100percentt an act of mercy, that was him telling him what he wanted to hear, knowing that Tommy was gonna die.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "that was him" to provide confirmation or recognition, especially when recalling a past event or identifying someone from a description. It's suitable for conversational and narrative contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "that was he" in informal conversation, as it sounds overly formal. While grammatically correct, "that was him" is the more natural choice in most modern contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that was him" primarily functions as a declarative statement used for identification or recognition. It asserts that a specific person was the individual involved in a prior event or situation. As Ludwig AI states, it is a correct phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "that was him" serves as a common and grammatically sound method for identifying someone, particularly in retrospect. As affirmed by Ludwig AI, it's widely accepted and understood. Its prevalence in news and media indicates its suitability for general communication. For more formal contexts, alternatives like "that was indeed him" might be considered. However, in most everyday scenarios, "that was him" remains a natural and effective choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that was indeed him

Adds emphasis and confirmation.

that was certainly him

Expresses a high degree of certainty.

it was him, without a doubt

Indicates no uncertainty about the identification.

it turned out to be him

Suggests a discovery or realization.

he was the one

A more concise way to identify someone.

that's who it was

Rephrases the identification more generally.

it was him all along

Suggests a realization that someone was involved from the beginning.

the person in question was him

A more formal way of stating the identification.

he fit the description

Indicates that the person matched a previously given description.

he was the individual

A more formal and less common way of identifying someone.

FAQs

How can I use "that was him" in a sentence?

You can use "that was him" to confirm someone's identity or action in a past situation. For example, "When I saw the video, I realized "that was him" who scored the winning goal."

What are some alternatives to saying "that was him"?

Alternatives include "that was indeed him", "it was him", or "he was the one", depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "that was him"?

Yes, while "that was he" is technically correct, "that was him" is more commonly used and accepted in contemporary English.

What's the difference between "that was him" and "that was he"?

"That was he" is more formal and less frequently used in modern conversation. "That was him" is the more common and natural-sounding option.