was being lowered

USAGE SUMMARY

'was being lowered' is correct and can be used in formal written English.
For example: "The flag was being lowered at the end of the ceremony."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

The ceiling of the third-floor gallery was being lowered.

The New Yorker

I do not think the barrel was being lowered by a rope.

Harvard University

A veil was being lowered between Myanmar and the rest of the world.

The New York Times - Magazine

There was not even evidence that the barrel was being lowered by a jigger-hoist as alleged in the declaration.

Harvard University

We applauded louder still when it seemed like the Pakistani flag was being lowered infinitesimally slower than the Indian one.

The Guardian

It was almost as if the coffin was being lowered when someone noticed the corpse was breathing.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

So partitions are being lowered or eliminated.

The New York Times

Dikes are being lowered, spillways created.

The New York Times - Arts

As Mary sees it, standards are being lowered everywhere.

The New York Times - Arts

Rescue boats, presumably, were being lowered and launched, swimmers readied.

The New Yorker

"The quality of provision is being lowered – and ministers must take responsibility for this," said Courtney.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was being lowered", ensure the context clearly indicates what is performing the action of lowering. This enhances clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "was being lowered" with a plural subject. Use "were being lowered" instead to maintain correct grammatical agreement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was being lowered" functions as a passive progressive verb construction, indicating an ongoing action in the past. This construction emphasizes that the subject of the sentence is receiving the action, rather than performing it. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous real-world examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Academia

13%

Science

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Wiki

3%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was being lowered" is a grammatically correct and commonly used passive progressive construction that describes an ongoing action in the past where something is undergoing a reduction in position or status. According to Ludwig, this phrase is frequently found in news and media contexts, but is also present in academic and scientific writing. When employing this phrase, ensure correct subject-verb agreement and consider the alternatives to provide greater clarity or nuance. Given its widespread usage and grammatical soundness, "was being lowered" remains a reliable choice for formal and neutral communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was in the process of being lowered

Emphasizes the ongoing nature of the lowering action.

was in the act of being lowered

Highlights the specific moment of the lowering action.

was getting lowered

More informal, suggesting a gradual decrease in position.

was being brought down

Uses a phrasal verb to convey the same meaning, suggesting a controlled descent.

was gradually being lowered

Focuses on the gradual nature of the descent.

was slowly being lowered

Emphasizes the slow speed of the lowering action.

was being let down

Implies a more casual or less controlled lowering action.

was under reduction

Focuses on the state of reduction rather than the act of lowering itself.

experienced a lowering

Shifts the focus to the thing being lowered and the fact that it experienced the action.

saw a reduction in height

More descriptive, specifying a reduction in height rather than the action of lowering.

FAQs

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

Use "was being lowered" to describe a continuous action in the past where something is having its position reduced. For example, "The curtain was being lowered as the play ended."

What's the difference between "was being lowered" and "was lowered"?

"Was being lowered" indicates a continuous action in the past (passive progressive), while "was lowered" indicates a completed action in the past (simple passive). For example, "The flag was being lowered" (ongoing) versus "The flag was lowered" (completed).

Which is more appropriate, "was being lowered" or "was descending"?

While both indicate movement downwards, "was being lowered" implies an external force or mechanism is facilitating the descent. "Was descending" is a more general term for moving downwards. Choose based on the context of whether an external force is involved.

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

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "was getting lowered", "was brought down", or "was let down".