was being implemented

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was being implemented" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action that was in progress in the past, particularly in a passive voice context. Example: "The new policy was being implemented to improve workplace efficiency."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

In all of Afghanistan's cities, Mullah Omar's edict was being implemented yesterday, some sources suggested.

The Guardian

The UN collected information from 22 of Afghanistan's 34 provinces during a 12-month period ending in September to find out how well the law was being implemented.

The Guardian

Anyway, it was not in the Lib-Con agreement published yesterday so I called the Department for Transport to find out whether it was being implemented.

The Guardian

But even some of the law's biggest proponents say the Obama administration and tech companies should have provided aid as the legislation was being implemented.

The Guardian

The test had been designed for use in an air-conditioned American lab, but the Indian lab in which it was being implemented was cooled with ceiling fans.

The New Yorker

The tight labor market during the economic boom of the late 1990s significantly lowered unemployment at the very time that TANF was being implemented.

The New York Times - Books

Plus, they said, there was little coordination between administering agencies and thus no way to know if the policy was being implemented the same way for every program.

The Washington Post

The Kenya vision 2030 framework (pdf), a set of ambitious macroeconomic, legal, and constitutional reforms, was being implemented in close partnership with the World Bank.

The Guardian - Opinion

Horst Kasner believed the basic idea of socialism was right but he disagreed with how it was being implemented in Soviet-controlled East Germany.

Independent

Monti said that in his 15 months in office he deliberately never told Italians that his programme of austerity, structural reforms, and tax rises was being implemented because of EU orders.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Back in 2011, when this was being implemented, all we did was complain that it looked ugly, but the social implications of this redesign are enormous.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was being implemented" to describe a process or plan that was actively in progress at a specific time in the past. This phrasing works well when you want to emphasize the ongoing nature of the implementation.

Common error

Avoid using "was being implemented" when referring to a completed action. Instead, use "was implemented" to indicate that the implementation process has finished.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was being implemented" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that an action (implementation) was being performed on something. This structure highlights the process rather than the actor. Ludwig confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

42%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Academia

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was being implemented" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to describe an ongoing process in the past. According to Ludwig, it functions as a passive verb phrase and serves to communicate that something was actively being put into effect. Predominantly found in News & Media and Science contexts, it maintains a neutral to formal register. When using this phrase, ensure the tense aligns with the context and consider alternatives like "was being executed" or "was being applied" for subtle shifts in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was being executed

Focuses more on the active process of carrying out a plan or order.

was being carried out

Emphasizes the action of performing a task or plan.

was being applied

Highlights the act of putting something into practice or use.

was being enforced

Stresses the imposition and upholding of a rule or law.

was under implementation

Highlights that a process of implementation was ongoing.

was in the process of being implemented

Adds emphasis on the continuous nature of the implementation.

was getting implemented

More informal phrasing suggesting the progression of implementation.

was set in motion

Focuses on the initiation and start of a process.

was underway

Indicates that something was in progress or in motion.

was being actioned

Emphasizes the taking of action to carry out a plan.

FAQs

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

You can use "was being implemented" to describe a process in progress at a specific time in the past. For example, "The new curriculum "was being implemented" during the fall semester".

What can I say instead of "was being implemented"?

You can use alternatives like "was being executed", "was being applied", or "was under implementation" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "was being implemented" or "was implemented"?

"Was being implemented" describes a process that was in progress, while "was implemented" describes a process that was completed. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize the ongoing nature or the completion of the implementation.

What's the difference between "was being implemented" and "is being implemented"?

"Was being implemented" refers to a past action, whereas "is being implemented" refers to a present action. Use "was being implemented" when discussing something that occurred in the past and is no longer ongoing.