was being negotiated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was being negotiated" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an ongoing process of negotiation that was happening in the past. Example: "The terms of the contract were still being negotiated when the deadline approached."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

I worked in the DTI in the 1980s when the single market was being negotiated.

The Guardian - Opinion

As the deal was being negotiated, the federal government applied pressure.

The New Yorker

What was being negotiated last month was prolonging an existing bailout arrangement by several months.

The Guardian

A spokeswoman for 23andMe, Rachel Cohen, said the matter was being negotiated with the state.

The New York Times

Hirsch would not name the buyer and said the price was being negotiated.

The New York Times

While that settlement was being negotiated, Andersen put Mr. Kutsenda in charge of revising the firm's "document retention" policy.

The New York Times

In late 2001, Qayum was in Bonn, at the conference where the post-Taliban leadership was being negotiated.

The New Yorker

Chrysler executives said a deal was being negotiated with Mr. Iacocca, the company's 80-year-old retired chairman.

The New York Times

When the deal was being negotiated last year, UPM stock was trading at about $40 a share.

The New York Times

Stocks could easily lose their gains if either chamber of Congress is unable to pass the compromise that was being negotiated on Monday.

The New York Times

In fact, the items were shipped from Italy months ago while the contract was being negotiated by Sicilian cultural officials who are no longer in office.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was being negotiated" when you want to emphasize that a negotiation process was underway at a specific point in the past, without necessarily focusing on who was doing the negotiating. For example, "The contract terms were being negotiated when the deadline arrived."

Common error

Avoid using "was being negotiated" when you need to specify who was negotiating. In such cases, use the active voice: "The lawyers were negotiating the terms."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was being negotiated" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that an action (negotiation) was in progress at a specific time in the past. It's used when the focus is on the action itself rather than the actor. Ludwig AI validates this usage through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

93%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was being negotiated" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase in the English language. Ludwig AI confirms it accurately describes an ongoing negotiation process in the past, as demonstrated by the high number of examples extracted from reliable sources. Predominantly found in news and media, the phrase serves to inform readers about active negotiations, making it a valuable tool for clear and professional communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was under negotiation

Replaces the continuous tense with a stative construction, emphasizing the state of being negotiated rather than the active process.

was in the process of being negotiated

Adds emphasis to the ongoing nature of the negotiation.

was in negotiation

A more concise way of saying something was being negotiated.

was the subject of negotiation

Highlights the topic or item being negotiated.

was being discussed

Broader term indicating conversation and deliberation, not necessarily leading to an agreement.

was hammered out

Suggests a more intense and detailed negotiation process.

was thrashed out

Similar to 'hammered out' but can imply a more argumentative negotiation.

was being arranged

Focuses on the preparation and organization aspects of negotiation.

was subject to bargaining

Emphasizes the give-and-take aspect of the negotiation.

was up for bargaining

Similar to 'was subject to bargaining', indicating availability for negotiation.

FAQs

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

Use "was being negotiated" to describe an ongoing negotiation in the past. For instance, "The peace treaty "was being negotiated" for several months."

What's a good alternative to "was being negotiated"?

Alternatives include "was under negotiation", "was in negotiation", or "was being discussed", depending on the context.

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

"Was being negotiated" indicates an ongoing process in the past, while "was negotiated" indicates a completed action. The correct choice depends on whether you want to emphasize the process or the result.

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

"Was being negotiated" refers to a negotiation that was in progress at a specific time in the past, while "is being negotiated" refers to a negotiation that is currently in progress.