that was showing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "that was showing" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to refer to something that was visible or being displayed in the past. Here is an example: "The museum had a special exhibit on ancient artifacts that was showing last month."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We would see 'Watermelon Man.' We would see anything that was showing".

The New York Times

You know, balanced the budget, helped create an economy that was showing significant growth.

The New Yorker

"We couldn't get tickets, but we finally found a bar that was showing it," said a cousin, Rocco Minervini.

The New York Times

I was traveling once on an airline that was showing bits of TV programs on the overhead entertainment system.

The New York Times

"He was totally mummified then, all that was showing was his eyes and mouth," Mr. Newman said.

The New York Times

Mr. Dennis recently sold the American version of Maxim, a juggernaut that was showing the strains of increasing competition.

The New York Times

Last month in Tunis Salafists smashed a cinema that was showing a mildly provocative film falsely said to defame Islam.

The Economist

I heard this in a class that was showing adults how to teach math to elementary school kids.

The New York Times

Along with a friend, he sneaked into a Liverpool theater that was showing a double bill -- "Psycho" and "The War of the Worlds".

The New York Times - Magazine

Also new is a revamped content management system to create these apps, to replace the existing "cumbersome" system that was showing its age.

The Guardian - Tech

In July , 2012 in Aurora, Colorado, James Holmes entered a movie theatre that was showing "The Dark Knight Rises" and opened fire.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "that was showing", ensure the context clearly indicates what was being displayed or visible at a specific time in the past. For example: "The theater that was showing the film closed early."

Common error

Avoid shifting tenses inconsistently. If you're describing a past event, maintain past tense throughout the sentence. Instead of "The movie that was showing is great", say "The movie that was showing was great."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that was showing" functions as a relative clause, modifying a noun (e.g., "movie", "theater", "exhibit") by providing additional information about it. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Science

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "that was showing" is a versatile and grammatically correct relative clause used to specify or describe something that was being displayed or visible in the past. As affirmed by Ludwig AI, it is suitable for a wide range of contexts, although most frequently found in News & Media. When writing, pay attention to tense consistency and choose the most appropriate synonym to convey the intended nuance. Consider alternatives such as "which was displaying" or "what was on display" to add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

which was displaying

Uses "displaying" instead of "showing", emphasizing active presentation.

that was presenting

Substitutes "showing" with "presenting", indicating an active offering for viewing.

which exhibited

Replaces "was showing" with "exhibited", suggesting a formal presentation or display.

what was on display

Changes the structure to emphasize the state of being on display.

which featured

Replaces "was showing" with "featured", indicating prominence.

that could be seen

Focuses on the potential for being seen, rather than the act of showing.

that had on view

Emphasizes the availability for viewing.

that appeared to be showing

Adds a degree of uncertainty or appearance.

what they were presenting

Changes the sentence structure to emphasize on "they".

what one could observe

Focuses on the observer's ability to see something.

FAQs

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

Use "that was showing" to describe something that was being displayed or presented at a particular time. For example: "I went to a museum "that was showing" an exhibit on ancient Egypt."

What are some alternatives to "that was showing"?

You can use phrases like "which was displaying", "which exhibited", or "what was on display" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "that is showing" instead of "that was showing"?

The choice between "that is showing" and ""that was showing"" depends on the time frame you are referencing. "That is showing" refers to something currently being displayed, while "that was showing" refers to something displayed in the past.

What's the difference between "that was showing" and "that was featured"?

"That was showing" simply indicates something was being displayed. "That was featured" implies that something was given special attention or prominence.