was becoming

USAGE SUMMARY

"was becoming" is correct and usable in written English.
You may use it when talking about the progressive development of something over a period of time. For example, "As the days passed, his skills in the craft were becoming more and more sophisticated."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It was becoming collision football.

The New York Times

I was becoming quite ill.

The New York Times

He was becoming mentally feeble.

The New York Times

But it was becoming boring.

Independent

I was becoming more detached.

The Guardian - Film

"It was becoming a grind".

The New York Times

Emancipation was becoming a reality.

Independent

It was becoming predictable.

The New York Times - Magazine

It was becoming unseemly.

The Guardian

He was becoming farsighted.

The New York Times - Health

I was becoming strange.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was becoming" to describe a gradual change or development that was in progress at a specific time in the past. It implies that the transformation was not yet complete.

Common error

Avoid using "was becoming" when you want to express that something has fully transformed. Use "became" to indicate the change is complete, while "was becoming" implies an ongoing process.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "was becoming" is to act as a progressive verb phrase, indicating an ongoing action or state of change in the past. Ludwig's examples show it describing states such as "was becoming a job" or "was becoming more public."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Science

8%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was becoming" is a verb phrase used to describe an ongoing process or state of transition in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and frequently used. It’s important to differentiate it from "became", which indicates a completed transformation. The phrase is versatile and appears across various registers, but it’s most prevalent in news and media. When writing, use "was becoming" to accurately depict gradual changes that were in progress but not yet finalized at a specific time.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

started to become

Focuses on the initiation of the process of becoming, emphasizing the starting point.

developed into

Focuses on a process of growth or maturation.

began to transform into

Highlights a more significant change or metamorphosis, suggesting a complete alteration.

emerged as

Emphasizes the result of a process of becoming, highlighting the final form or identity.

gradually evolved into

Emphasizes a slow, natural progression, often implying a positive or improved state.

progressively turned into

Similar to 'gradually evolved', but can also suggest a negative transformation depending on the context.

was in the process of becoming

More formal and emphasizes the ongoing nature of the change.

was getting to be

More informal and colloquial, suggesting a change in condition or state.

was on the way to becoming

Highlights the direction of change and the anticipation of a future state.

morphed into

Suggests a sudden or unexpected transformation.

FAQs

How do I use "was becoming" in a sentence?

"Was becoming" is used to describe an ongoing process or a state of transition in the past. For example, "The situation "was becoming urgent"" indicates the urgency increased over time.

What are some alternatives to "was becoming"?

You can use alternatives such as "started to become", "began to transform into", or "gradually evolved into" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "was becoming" formal or informal?

"Was becoming" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. The formality often depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and the overall tone of the writing.

What's the difference between "was becoming" and "became"?

"Was becoming" describes a process that was underway but not necessarily finished at a specific point in the past. "Became", on the other hand, indicates that the transformation was completed. For example, "He "was becoming tired"" suggests increasing fatigue, while "He became tired" indicates he reached a state of tiredness.