there once is

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "there once is" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically intended to introduce a story or a fable but should be phrased differently for clarity and grammatical accuracy. Example: "There once was a time when dragons roamed the earth."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"It's hard to explain, to get there once is a dream but twice is unbelievable," he told BBC Radio York.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Is there a college in College Point? A. No, but there once was.

The New York Times

Legend has it that there once was".

The New York Times

That is far fewer than there once were.

The New York Times

In fact, there are no longer dedicated test days during the season as there once were.

The New York Times - Sports

The Boy Who Loved Math There once was a boy who loved math.

The New York Times

The Brightest Light There once was a little candle named Blue.

The New Yorker

Louise Arbour, the… There once were two planets, new to the galaxy and inexperienced in life.

The New Yorker

Why is it that there are fewer close elections than there once were?

The New York Times

Though there are few Jews in Montana today, there once were many.

The New York Times

He says there are East-West distinctions, but not nearly so many as there once were.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When indicating a past state, always use "there once was" instead of "there once is".

Common error

Avoid using the present tense "is" when referring to something that existed in the past. Using "was" correctly indicates the past.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "there once is" functions as an introductory phrase, aiming to set a scene or introduce a narrative element. However, it incorrectly combines past and present tenses. As Ludwig AI explains, it is not correct in standard written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "there once is" attempts to convey a sense of past existence, it is grammatically incorrect. According to Ludwig AI, it "is not correct in standard written English". The correct and commonly used alternative is "there once was", which accurately reflects a past state or event. Therefore, always opt for "there once was" to maintain grammatical accuracy and clarity in your writing. It is important to avoid tense mixing to ensure the message is conveyed in a professional form.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

there once was

Changes the verb 'is' to 'was' to correctly indicate past tense.

once there was

Rearranges the order for emphasis and to fit a narrative structure.

there used to be

Employs 'used to be' to convey a past state.

at one time there was

Adds 'at one time' to emphasize a specific period in the past.

in the past there was

Uses 'in the past' to generally indicate a time long ago.

formerly there was

Substitutes 'formerly' to mean 'in the past' or 'previously'.

previously there had been

Replaces 'was' with 'had been' to indicate a past perfect tense.

earlier there was

Replaces 'once' with 'earlier' to specify a preceding time.

there existed

Replaces the verb phrase with the single verb 'existed' for a more concise expression.

once upon a time there was

Expands to the classic fairytale opening, setting a more fantastical tone.

FAQs

What's the correct way to start a sentence about something that existed in the past?

The correct way to start a sentence is with "there once was" or "once upon a time", not "there once is", when referring to past events or situations.

Is "there once is" grammatically correct?

No, "there once is" is not grammatically correct. The correct phrase to use when referring to something that existed in the past is "there once was".

How can I use "there once was" in a sentence?

You can use "there once was" to introduce a story or describe a past state, such as "there once was a bustling market in this town".

What's the difference between "there once is" and "there once was"?

"There once is" is grammatically incorrect because it mixes past and present tenses. The correct form, "there once was", correctly indicates a past state or event.