was being interrupted

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was being interrupted" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an ongoing action that was disrupted by another action in the past. Example: "While she was giving her presentation, she was being interrupted by questions from the audience."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

He said further down in the Q&A, which was held to promote his new film, Rock the Kasbah, that the worst part about being Bill Murray was being interrupted and not being able to walk down the street by himself.

Independent

Leadership was being interrupted with absurd interpretations of the Bible during morning services.

Huffington Post

The song was unusually dreamy and moody for a Bond picture, and came as the narrative flow of the Bond film franchise was being interrupted.

Huffington Post

Less than 24 hours later, that game was being interrupted with charges that Kraft's team was cheating the Colts by deflating the footballs.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Their semifinal match was was interrupted by rain in the second set as Lapentti led by 2-02-0the losing the first set, 6-4, and organizers hoped it could resume today.

The New York Times - Sports

Hitler is being interrupted, he is being criticised, he is being refuted if necessary".

Independent

Talk story about arrangements radio people have with sponsors of programs which are being interrupted by news reports.

The New Yorker

10.40pm BST Fan delay Alert Jon Bois, game three of the NLDS is being interrupted by a fan on the field.

The Guardian - Sport

Here our lives are being interrupted, but benignly, by the personification of victory over death rather than by death herself.

The New York Times - Arts

Throughout the current fasting month of Ramadan, the channel's programming is being interrupted in the small hours of each morning to show the adhan call to prayer.

The Economist

That means that many of us are being interrupted too often to regain focus, with the result that our work and mental clarity suffer.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider whether a simpler past tense form ("was interrupted") is sufficient to convey the meaning, as it often provides a more concise expression.

Common error

Avoid using "was being interrupted" when an active voice construction would be clearer and more direct. For example, instead of "The speaker was being interrupted by hecklers", consider "Hecklers interrupted the speaker".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was being interrupted" functions as a passive verb phrase. It describes an action (interruption) that was being done to someone or something. This ongoing passive construction indicates that the interruption occurred repeatedly or continuously over a period of time. The Ludwig AI confirms this usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was being interrupted" is a grammatically correct passive verb phrase used to describe an ongoing disruption. While Ludwig AI confirms its validity, it's relatively rare. The phrase appears mainly in News & Media contexts, suggesting a neutral register. Consider whether the simpler active voice or past passive form ("was interrupted") might be more concise. When using "was being interrupted", ensure the context clearly indicates what process was disrupted and by what, and ensure that its use is the most effective way to convey your intended meaning and that it aligns with the overall tone of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been disrupted

Emphasizes the disruptive effect rather than the act of interrupting.

faced interruption

Focuses on the event of interruption rather than the ongoing process.

was disturbed

Highlights the feeling of disturbance caused by the interruption.

had its flow broken

Describes interruption in terms of disrupting a continuous flow.

was interfered with

Rephrases to emphasize active interference.

met with interference

Uses a more formal term, "interference", to describe the interruption.

had its continuity broken

Similar to 'had its flow broken', but using 'continuity' for emphasis.

saw its course halted

Emphasizes the complete stop caused by the interruption.

experienced a break

Focuses on experiencing a pause or gap.

was suspended

Highlights a temporary halt in progress.

FAQs

How does "was being interrupted" differ from "was interrupted"?

"Was being interrupted" implies an ongoing interruption, while "was interrupted" suggests a single, completed event. For example, "The meeting was being interrupted by phone calls" indicates repeated disruptions, whereas "The meeting was interrupted by a fire alarm" describes a single event.

What are some alternatives to using "was being interrupted"?

Depending on the context, alternatives include "faced interruption", "had been disrupted", or "was disturbed". Choose the phrase that best fits the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it always better to use the active voice instead of the passive "was being interrupted"?

Not always. The passive voice is useful when the actor is unknown or unimportant, or when you want to emphasize the action itself. However, in many cases, the active voice is clearer and more concise.

Can "was being interrupted" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "was being interrupted" is grammatically correct and can be used in formal writing. However, ensure that its use is the most effective way to convey your intended meaning and that it aligns with the overall tone of your writing.