was already shut

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was already shut" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something was closed or not open at a previous time. Example: "When I arrived at the store, I found that it was already shut for the day."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

"By the time I went there, the plant was already shut down," he said.

The New York Times - Health

The price of insuring Argentine bonds against default has spiked, but the country was already shut out of debt markets.

The Economist

He was afraid the whole of Oslo was already shut off because of the bomb attack and that he would never get to the next phase of his plan.

The Guardian

In January 2003, computers infected with the Slammer worm shut down safety display systems at the Davis-Besse power plant in Ohio, though the plant was already shut down at the time.

Forbes

The plan that was announced yesterday doesn't mandate a shut-by date for specific reactors, but says that the country's seven oldest reactors, taken off-line after Fukushima, should stay shut down, along with an eighth that was already shut because of safety issues.

Science Magazine

He said ExxonMobil and Cenex Harvest Refinery did so, and that Conoco Phillips said its pipe was already shut down.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

The reactors placed in cold shutdown were already shut down before the earthquake and the tsunami struck on March 11, posing less of a risk than the other reactors at the plant.

The New York Times

After convincing my brother-in-law Jeffrey Schwartz in November 2001 to accompany me the next summer, we found we were already shut out of the tour my friend had recommended, which shadowed the last week of the 2002 race from the Alps to Paris.

The New York Times - Travel

The 35 schools at the bottom must adopt interventions, such as mandatory curriculum, personnel changes and external expertise, or face closure (five of the 35 are already shut).

Forbes

The federal government is already shut down.

Huffington Post

Only a customer whose water is already shut off or faces a pending shut-off qualifies for the Detroit Residential Water Assistance Program.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider stronger alternatives like "had already closed" if you want to emphasize the completion of the action.

Common error

Avoid using "was already shut" when you mean something is currently being shut. The phrase indicates a past state, not a present action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was already shut" functions as a descriptive phrase indicating a past state of being closed. Ludwig confirms this is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was already shut" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase for indicating that something was closed or unavailable at a past time. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's most commonly found in news and media contexts. While there are more common alternatives like "was already closed", the specific phrasing is suitable for many scenarios, so it's mostly up to the writer's discretion. When using "was already shut", ensure that your context makes clear what time frame you're referencing, in order to prevent ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was already closed

A simpler and more direct synonym, focusing on the state of being closed.

had already closed

Emphasizes the action of closing occurred before a certain point.

had been shut down

Highlights the process of being shut down, often implying an action by an external force.

was not open

A straightforward statement of non-availability.

was no longer operating

Focuses on the cessation of operation or activity.

was not running

Focuses on the absence of a running process or operation.

was out of service

Indicates a temporary or permanent removal from functionality.

had been deactivated

Implies a deliberate action to stop something from functioning.

had ceased functioning

Highlights the end of functionality or operation.

was inoperative

Emphasizes the inability to operate.

FAQs

What is a simple alternative to "was already shut"?

A simple alternative is "was already closed", which directly indicates the state of being closed at a past time.

How does "was already shut" differ from "is already shut"?

"Was already shut" refers to a past state of closure, while "is already shut" refers to a present state. The tense shifts the context.

Can I use "had already shut" instead of "was already shut"?

While similar, "had already shut" emphasizes the action of shutting occurred before another point in the past. "Was already shut" simply describes the state.

What other phrases convey a similar meaning to "was already shut"?

Similar phrases include "had been shut down", "was not open", and "was no longer operating", depending on the desired nuance.