was being handled

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was being handled" is correct and usable in written English.
It is a past progressive tense verb phrase and is used to describe an action that was ongoing in the past. Example: The project was being handled by a team of experts while the manager was out of town.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Looked like it was being handled appropriately.... Q.

The New York Times

CNN's planned documentary was being handled by a separate division, CNN Films.

The New York Times

He said the matter was being handled by Attorney General William P. Barr.

The Washington Post

One division or another repeatedly assumed that the job was being handled elsewhere.

The New York Times

Billboard said the sale was being handled by estate advisers Charles Koppelman and L Londell McMillan.

The Guardian - Music

The plurality, 44percentt, said Vick was being handled the same as anyone else.

The New York Times - Sports

A spokeswoman for Pyne said the matter was being "handled appropriately by the Australian high commissioner".

The Guardian

He'd already described Brexit as "the hardest job since beating Nazis" and argued that it was being handled incompetently.

The Guardian - Opinion

In the meantime the investigation was being handled by the City of London police because it happened in its area.

The Guardian

Ludlam expressed concern that the system was being handled "behind the scenes" by security agencies and the attorney general's department.

The Guardian

P.J. Bernstein's, 1215 Third Avenue at 70th Street, made sandwiches on bread that tore as it was being handled.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was being handled" to describe an ongoing process or action in the past. It's especially useful when you want to emphasize that the action was in progress over a period of time.

Common error

Avoid replacing "was being handled" with an active voice construction if the actor is unknown or unimportant. The passive voice effectively emphasizes the action rather than the doer in these cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was being handled" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that the subject of the sentence was receiving the action of handling. It is used to describe an ongoing process or action in the past, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was being handled" is a common and grammatically sound construction used to describe an action in progress during a specific period in the past. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase effectively conveys that something was actively managed or dealt with. Its neutral register makes it suitable for various contexts, especially in news, business and general informative writing. While the phrase is correct, consider the context to choose the most appropriate phrasing and potentially use active voice for more direct communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was in the process of being addressed

This alternative emphasizes the ongoing nature of addressing an issue.

was being dealt with

This is a direct and straightforward alternative emphasizing action.

was undergoing management

This focuses on the act of management as the primary action.

was being taken care of

This is a more informal way of saying something was being managed.

was being processed

This focuses on a more systematic or procedural approach.

was under consideration

This emphasizes the act of thinking about or evaluating something.

was being supervised

This alternative focuses on oversight and direction.

was being administered

This suggests a formal or official management process.

was subject to handling

This is a more formal way of saying something was being handled.

was being overseen

Similar to 'supervised', but can imply a more watchful role.

FAQs

How can I use "was being handled" in a sentence?

The phrase "was being handled" indicates that something was in the process of being managed or dealt with. For example, "The investigation "was being handled" by the local authorities."

What's a more informal way to say "was being handled"?

A more informal way to express the same idea is to say something "was being taken care of". This conveys a similar meaning but is less formal.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "was being handled"?

The passive voice, as in "was being handled", is often preferred when the actor is unknown or not important. If you want to emphasize who is doing the handling, you can rephrase it in the active voice.

What are some synonyms for "was being handled" in a professional context?

In a professional setting, you might use phrases such as "was undergoing management" or "was being administered" to convey a similar meaning with a more formal tone.