that was underway

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "that was underway" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something was in progress or happening at a certain time in the past. Example: "The project that was underway last year has now been completed successfully."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

After Mueller was appointed, his team took over the Manafort investigation that was underway in Virginia.

The Washington Post

Or, perhaps, the Congressional picnic that was underway at the White House on Thursday evening?

The New York Times

One case that was underway became entangled in that shift, according to interviews and records.

The Washington Post

Guardian Australia was told by the AHRC the release of the documents would prejudice a police investigation that was underway.

The Guardian

At the time, police had Pennsylvania Avenue blocked with large dump trucks at 12th Street to prevent a vehicular attack on a Syrian folk festival that was underway.

The Washington Post

Iberdrola spokeswoman Jan Johnson credited the Obama program as a savior that came "just in time," helping the company avoid halting construction that was underway in 2008.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

Co-ordination of the efforts that are underway is obviously vital.

The Guardian

"The battle that is underway is not a battle over the future of privacy and publicity.

The Guardian - Tech

The collapse of American power that is underway is the predictable upshot.

The Guardian - Opinion

Greiner and his colleagues then gave reports on specific trials that are underway.

Harvard University

They spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a process that is underway.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a past event or project, use "that was underway" to clearly indicate that it was already in progress at that specific point in time. For instance, "During the conference, several initiatives that were underway were discussed".

Common error

Avoid using "that was underway" when referring to future events or hypothetical situations. It's specifically for describing something in progress in the past. For example, instead of saying "The project that was underway will fail", use "The project that is currently underway is failing"

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that was underway" functions as a relative clause, modifying a noun by providing additional information about it. It indicates that something was in progress at a specific time in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

20%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "that was underway" functions as a relative clause indicating that something was in progress at a specific point in the past. As validated by Ludwig AI, its usage is grammatically correct and versatile across various contexts, particularly in news, media, science, and academia. While alternatives like "that was in progress" and "that was ongoing" exist, it's important to maintain tense consistency and avoid misuse with future or hypothetical scenarios. This phrase adds essential context by specifying the active status of an event or process during a particular time.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that was in progress

Replaces "underway" with a more explicit term for being in progress.

that was ongoing

Substitutes "underway" with a synonym indicating continuous activity.

that had started

Focuses on the commencement of the activity rather than its continuation.

that was being conducted

Emphasizes the act of conducting or carrying out the activity.

that was being implemented

Highlights the execution or putting into effect of a plan or process.

which was in development

Specifically indicates that something was in the process of being developed or created.

that was active

Uses a more general term to describe the state of being in operation.

that was operative

Indicates that something was in effect or functioning.

that was taking place

Replaces the phrase with a more descriptive alternative.

that was happening

Uses a less formal synonym to indicate an event in progress.

FAQs

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

Use "that was underway" to describe an action or process that was in progress at a specific point in the past. For example, "The investigation "that was underway" has been completed."

What are some alternatives to "that was underway"?

Alternatives include "that was in progress", "that was ongoing", or "that had started", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

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

The correctness depends on the time frame you're referring to. "That is underway" refers to something currently in progress, while ""that was underway"" refers to something that was in progress in the past.

What's the difference between "that was underway" and "that was completed"?

"That was underway" indicates an ongoing process in the past, while "that was completed" indicates that a process was finished in the past. They describe different states of an action.