was an irregularity

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was an irregularity" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a deviation from the norm or an inconsistency in a situation or process. Example: "The audit revealed that there was an irregularity in the financial records that needed to be addressed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

That was an irregularity.

The Guardian - Sport

When an academic bloomer got something right it 'fit the pattern' and when they got something wrong, 'it was an irregularity.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

It is an irregularity that piques curiosity.

The New York Times - Magazine

Northwest Airlines replaced a jackscrew assembly on one of its DC-9 aircraft after inspectors found what they thought might have been an irregularity with the part.

The New York Times

Extremists are an irregularity in every creed; they will always be present in public life and will always have some sort of support.

The Guardian - Opinion

Institutionally, a deviation from plan is an irregularity, but competitively it is creative, innovative, exploratory work.

Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Delamination in materials is an irregularity which can be formed suddenly (by impact) or slowly over time (by corrosion fatigue).

Engineering Failure Analysis

However, this is an irregularity in our dataset and does not mean that Chi-squared is an effective feature selection method to increase the accuracy of our classier.

Journal of Big Data

Jack Mortell, the leader of the United States short-track team, said that if there was any irregularity in a race, the referee could order a restart within a half-hour.

The New York Times - Sports

In a contentious 3-2 decision, the Constitutional Court on Monday ordered that the clock on the trial be turned back to April 19, part of an awkward remedy to resolve what it decided was a procedural irregularity.

The New York Times

The legislation would make clear that sex discrimination law applied to arbitration tribunals and any evidence of sexism was "a serious irregularity".

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was an irregularity", ensure the context clearly defines what the expected norm or standard is, so the deviation is easily understood.

Common error

Avoid using "was an irregularity" for minor or trivial deviations. This phrase is most effective when describing significant departures from expected standards or norms that could have consequences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was an irregularity" functions as a predicative expression, typically describing a situation or event that deviates from an established norm or standard. Ludwig examples show its use in describing procedural errors and unusual occurrences. It's used to identify something out of the ordinary.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was an irregularity" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that denotes a deviation from an established norm or expected standard. Ludwig AI confirms its proper use in various contexts, primarily in News & Media and Scientific domains. While not exceedingly common, its usage is consistent and effective when highlighting situations requiring attention or correction. To enhance clarity, specify the expected norm when using this phrase. Consider alternatives like "constituted an anomaly" or "represented a deviation" to refine the meaning as needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

constituted an anomaly

Highlights the unusual or exceptional nature of the occurrence.

involved a discrepancy

Emphasizes the lack of agreement or consistency between different elements.

showed an inconsistency

Highlights a lack of uniformity or logical coherence.

represented a deviation

Focuses on the act of diverging from an established norm or expected behavior.

demonstrated an error

Focuses on a mistake or inaccuracy made during a procedure.

indicated a flaw

Points out the presence of a defect or imperfection in the process or system.

reflected an aberration

Focuses on the departure from what is normal, usual, or expected.

suggested an impropriety

Implies something unethical, inappropriate, or illegal occurred.

there was a glitch

Suggests a minor malfunction or disruption.

there was a lapse

Suggests a temporary failure of concentration, memory, or judgment.

FAQs

How can I use "was an irregularity" in a sentence?

You can use "was an irregularity" to describe a situation that deviates from the norm. For example, "The discrepancy in the financial report was an irregularity that needed investigation".

What can I say instead of "was an irregularity"?

You can use alternatives like "constituted an anomaly", "involved a discrepancy", or "represented a deviation" depending on the context.

Is "was an irregularity" formal or informal?

"Was an irregularity" is generally considered neutral to formal. It can be used in professional, academic, and news contexts.

What's the difference between "was an irregularity" and "was a mistake"?

"Was an irregularity" implies a deviation from a standard or norm, while "was a mistake" simply means an error occurred. An irregularity may or may not be a mistake.