this was when

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'this was when' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a specific time or moment in the past. For example: "I remember when I was six years old - this was when I first got interested in astronomy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This was when the phrase "Judeo-Christianity" came into vogue.

Huffington Post

This was when I was in Virginia.

The New York Times

This was when I started bottoming out.

The New York Times - Magazine

This was when the magic began.

Encyclopedia Britannica

This was when I was twenty-four, twenty-five.

The New Yorker

This was when you arrived home.

The Guardian - Books

This was when the trouble started.

The Guardian

This was when my family came.

The New York Times

This was when I first discovered surrealism.

The Guardian - Film

This was when the bombing would begin".

The Guardian

This was when we changed gears.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "this was when" to clearly establish a temporal context, linking a situation to a specific point in time. This helps in creating a narrative flow and ensuring clarity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "this is when" when referring to a past event; "this was when" is correct for past tense. "This is when" is more appropriate for describing habitual actions or future scenarios.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this was when" functions as an adverbial phrase, specifically a relative adverbial phrase, introducing a clause that provides a specific point in time relevant to the main clause. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Science

2%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "this was when" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase that functions as an adverbial phrase, primarily to establish a temporal relationship within a sentence. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is appropriate for use in past tense narratives to provide context. The phrase maintains a neutral register and is predominantly found in news and media sources. When using "this was when", ensure you are referring to past events and avoid confusion with "this is when", which is used for present or habitual actions. Consider alternatives like "that's when it happened" or "it all started then" for variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that's when it happened

Replaces "this was" with "that's", emphasizing the event's occurrence.

that is the time when

Adds formality by expanding "that's" to "that is the time".

it all started then

Focuses on the beginning of a sequence of events.

the moment that

Highlights a specific instant or turning point.

it occurred at that time

Uses more formal language to describe when something took place.

it was during this period that

Emphasizes a longer span of time in which something happened.

at that particular juncture

Emphasizes the turning point nature of an event with more complex wording.

the time that

A more direct alternative, simply stating "the time".

that specific moment

Highlights the precise nature of a single instant.

when it all unfolded

Highlights the progression of events that took place after the initial point.

FAQs

How can I use "this was when" in a sentence?

Use "this was when" to refer to a specific time or moment in the past. For example, "I remember the day I got my first bicycle; "this was when" I felt truly independent".

What are some alternatives to using "this was when"?

You can use phrases like "that's when it happened", "that is the time when", or "it all started then" as alternatives to "this was when", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "this is when" instead of "this was when"?

"This is when" is used for present or habitual actions, while "this was when" is used for past events. Ensure you use the correct tense based on the time frame you're describing.

How does the formality of "this was when" compare to alternatives?

"This was when" is generally neutral in formality. Alternatives like "it occurred at that time" are more formal, while others like "that's when it happened" are more informal.