was being made

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of a sentence 'was being made' is correct and is usable in written English.
You can use it whenever you want to talk about a process that is already in progress. For example: Dinner was being made when the unexpected visitor arrived.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But outside academe, history was being made.

The Economist

History was being made.

The New York Times - Sports

"I was being made".

The New York Times

The decision was being made for us.

The New York Times

"An effort was being made".

The New York Times

Similar progress was being made abroad.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Music was being made on the spot.

The New York Times - Arts

General Cone said progress was being made.

The New York Times

One request was being made every three seconds.

Cornell University

It turned out that a movie was being made.

The New Yorker

It looked like peaceful progress was being made.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was being made" to describe an ongoing action in the past where the subject is receiving the action, not initiating it. This emphasizes the process rather than the actor.

Common error

Avoid using "was being made" when the active voice is more appropriate and direct. For instance, instead of "Mistakes was being made," consider "They were making mistakes" for clarity and impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was being made" functions as the past continuous passive voice. Ludwig AI confirms this usage. It indicates an action that was in progress at a specific time in the past, with the subject receiving the action.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Science

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was being made" is a common phrase used to describe an ongoing process in the past where the subject receives the action. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. It's versatile, appearing frequently in news and media, as well as academic contexts. Remember to use it to emphasize the action's progression rather than the actor, and ensure the correct tense and voice for clarity. By considering the context and alternative phrasings, you can effectively utilize "was being made" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was in the process of being created

Emphasizes the ongoing nature of the creation process, adding a more detailed description.

was in the making

Suggests that something significant is gradually developing or evolving over time.

was being developed

Similar to 'was in development' but with the focus on the action of development.

was in development

Focuses on the developmental stage of a project or product, implying research and improvement.

was being formed

Highlights the act of something taking shape or being brought into existence.

was in the works

An idiomatic expression indicating that something is planned or in progress, but not yet completed.

was getting prepared

Implies that something is being readied or made suitable for a specific purpose.

was under construction

Highlights the building or assembly aspect of something, focusing on the physical construction.

was in production

Refers specifically to the stage where a product is being actively produced or manufactured.

was getting manufactured

Specifically refers to the manufacturing process, implying mass production or industrial creation.

FAQs

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

Use "was being made" to describe an action in progress in the past where the subject is acted upon, such as "Dinner "was being made" when the guests arrived".

What are some alternatives to "was being made"?

You can use alternatives like "was in the process of being created", "was under construction", or "was in development" depending on the specific context.

When should I use "was being made" instead of "was made"?

"Was being made" indicates an ongoing process in the past, while "was made" indicates a completed action. For example, "The film "was being made" over several months" (ongoing) versus "The film "was made" in 2024" (completed).

What's the difference between "was being made" and "were being made"?

"Was being made" is used with singular nouns, while "were being made" is used with plural nouns. For instance, "The cake "was being made"" versus "The cookies "were being made"".