was being sold

USAGE SUMMARY

'was being sold' is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to indicate an ongoing action in the past. For example: The old furniture in the attic was being sold at the flea market.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The sculpture was being sold by the Mugrabis.

The New York Times - Arts

And Red Herring magazine said that it was being sold.

The New York Times

"Walking Man I" was being sold by Dresdner Bank in Germany, which acquired it in 1980.

The New York Times - Arts

It had been acquired from Moore in 1953 by the collectors whose art was being sold.

The New York Times - Arts

Dealers said it was being sold by the London hedge fund manager Arpad Busson.

The New York Times - Arts

On Tuesday, a bitcoin was being sold for about $108 online.

The New York Times

Milk was being sold for 28 cents a quart, one to a customer.

The New Yorker

It is administratively expensive but was most effective at reducing vendors' efforts to hide hake that was being sold illegally.

Yale University

It was being sold by Maya Picasso, the daughter of the artist and Marie-Théresè Walter.

The New York Times - Arts

But on the Maidan, there were strong fears that the revolution was being sold out.

The Washington Post

Our landlord had dropped the hammer and our house was being sold.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was being sold" to describe an ongoing action in the past. For example, "The antique furniture was being sold at the estate sale."

Common error

Avoid confusing "was being sold" with similar tenses. "Was sold" indicates a completed action in the past, while "was being sold" describes an action in progress.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was being sold" functions as a passive progressive verb form, indicating an action that was in progress at a specific time in the past. Ludwig confirms the correctness of its usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

12%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Science

4%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was being sold" is a grammatically sound passive progressive verb construction used to describe an ongoing action of selling in the past. Ludwig AI confirms this. It appears frequently in news and media, academic writing, and general discussions. When using "was being sold", remember that it indicates an action in progress, contrasting with the completed action implied by "was sold". Be aware of the context to choose the correct tense. Consider alternatives like "was on sale" or "was up for sale" for slight variations in meaning. This phrase is widely accepted and understood, making it a versatile choice for various writing contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was on sale

Focuses more on the state of being available for purchase at a reduced price.

was up for sale

Indicates that something was offered for sale.

was available for purchase

More formal and emphasizes the availability of the item.

was marketed

Focuses on the marketing aspect rather than the actual transaction.

was being auctioned off

Adds emphasis on a formal sale.

was auctioned

Specifies that the sale was conducted through an auction.

was under offer

Suggests a sale is in progress but not yet finalized.

was traded

Implies an exchange, not necessarily for money.

was dispensed

Implies something being distributed systematically.

was exchanged

Highlights the act of swapping something.

FAQs

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

Use "was being sold" to describe an action that was in progress in the past. For example, "The house "was being sold" when they decided to renovate it."

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

"Was sold" indicates a completed action in the past, while "was being sold" describes an action that was in progress in the past. For example, "The car was sold last week" versus "The car "was being sold" at auction when the engine failed".

What are some alternatives to "was being sold"?

Alternatives include "was on sale", "was available for purchase", or "was up for sale", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "is being sold" instead of "was being sold"?

The correct tense depends on the time frame you are referring to. "Is being sold" refers to the present, while "was being sold" refers to the past. For example, "The painting is being sold now" versus "The painting "was being sold" yesterday".