was being sent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was being sent" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are talking about something that was happening in the past but was interrupted. For example, "Our shipment of goods was being sent out when the warehouse caught fire."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Furthermore, he was being sent to Afghanistan.

The New Yorker

The case was being sent to court, Onyszko said.

The Guardian

What saved her was being sent away to school.

The Guardian - Books

"I couldn't believe I was being sent off," said Albrecht.

The Guardian - Sport

The offer was being sent to North Korean officials on Tuesday.

The New York Times

A check, a rep there explained, was being sent to the Sahns for $4,248.42.

The New York Times

And what kind of message was being sent to the people of this town?

The New York Times

President Obama said the Federal Emergency Management Agency was being sent.

The New York Times

Martina Navratilova and Lindsay Davenport expressed outrage at the message that was being sent.

The New Yorker

Here I was being sent to the same prison system as the man I wanted killed.

The New York Times

Groves said the first harvest was being sent to grocers in Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide and Perth.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was being sent", ensure the context clearly indicates both the sender and receiver, even if implied. For example, "The email was being sent, but the server crashed."

Common error

Avoid using "was being sent" when a simple past tense like "was sent" suffices. The continuous form is best when emphasizing the ongoing nature of the sending action at a specific past time.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was being sent" functions as a passive progressive construction, indicating an action that was in progress in the past. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its use across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

19%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was being sent" is a grammatically correct and commonly used passive progressive construction. Ludwig AI confirms its usability across various contexts, indicating an action in progress in the past. It's most frequently found in news and media, followed by scientific and formal/business contexts. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly implies the sender and receiver, and avoid using it when a simple past tense like "was sent" is sufficient. Remember, this phrase emphasizes the ongoing nature of the sending action rather than its completion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was dispatched

Focuses specifically on the act of sending something, often with an official connotation.

was forwarded

Emphasizes the transfer of something from one point to another.

was directed

Highlights the element of instruction or guidance in the sending process.

was routed

Indicates a specific path or channel through which something is sent.

was conveyed

Suggests the transportation of something, often information or a message.

was transmitted

Implies the sending of data or signals, especially electronically.

was shipped

Refers specifically to sending goods or items, often commercially.

was mailed

Indicates sending something via postal service.

was broadcast

Emphasizes the wide dissemination of information.

was wired

Suggests a sending of funds electronically.

FAQs

How do I use "was being sent" in a sentence?

Use "was being sent" to describe an action of sending that was in progress at a particular time in the past. For example, "The package "was being sent" when the address label fell off".

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

"Was sent" indicates a completed action in the past, while "was being sent" indicates an action that was in progress but may not have been completed. For instance, "The letter "was sent" last week" versus "The letter "was being sent" when the power went out".

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

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "was dispatched", "was forwarded", or "was routed".

Is "was being send" grammatically correct?

No, "was being send" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is ""was being sent"", which uses the past participle of the verb "send".