was blind to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was blind to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a lack of awareness or understanding regarding a particular situation or fact. Example: "Despite the evidence presented, she was blind to the reality of the situation."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It was blind to the marketplace.

The New Yorker

I was blind to the movie then.

The New York Times - Arts

I was blind to it when I came in.

The New Yorker

In my youth, Britain was blind to art and design.

The Guardian - Arts

But it also was blind to the present.

The New Yorker

The carnage, however, was blind to Iraq's sectarian divisions.

The New York Times

Ali was blind to the wider picture, though, as he pursued every psychological advantage.

The Guardian - Sport

First Love I was blind to you when you loved me long ago.

The New Yorker

The evaluator was blind to treatment groups.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

who was blind to clinical data.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

The peer review process was blind to eliminate any conflict of interest.

Energy Transitions

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was blind to" to express a past lack of awareness, understanding, or perception regarding a specific situation, fact, or emotional state. It's effective in narratives or analyses where highlighting a previous oversight is crucial for context.

Common error

Avoid using "was blind to" when you intend to convey intentional avoidance of knowledge. "Was blind to" implies a genuine lack of awareness, whereas willful ignorance suggests a deliberate choice to remain uninformed. Choose your words carefully to accurately reflect the intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was blind to" functions as a verb phrase, specifically a past tense form of "to be" followed by the adjective "blind" and the preposition "to". It indicates a state of unawareness or lack of understanding. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

36%

News & Media

34%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was blind to" effectively communicates a past state of unawareness or lack of understanding. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage. Predominantly found in Science and News & Media contexts, it maintains a neutral register suitable for diverse scenarios. To enhance clarity, distinguish it from willful ignorance, focusing on genuine lack of awareness. Consider alternatives like "was unaware of" or "failed to notice" for nuanced expressions. It indicates a state of unawareness or lack of understanding.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was unaware of

Focuses on a general lack of knowledge or consciousness about something.

was oblivious to

Highlights a state of being completely unaware and unconcerned.

failed to notice

Emphasizes the act of not observing or recognizing something.

overlooked

Suggests a failure to see or consider something important.

missed the significance of

Indicates a failure to understand the importance or meaning of something.

was ignorant of

Highlights a lack of knowledge or information about something.

was insensitive to

Focuses on a lack of awareness or understanding of someone's feelings or needs.

remained in the dark about

Implies a state of not being informed or enlightened about something.

didn't realize

Simply states a lack of understanding or awareness.

was unconscious of

Implies a lack of awareness on a deeper, perhaps subconscious, level.

FAQs

How can I use "was blind to" in a sentence?

The phrase "was blind to" is used to express a past lack of awareness or understanding. For example, "He "was blind to" the consequences of his actions" indicates that he didn't realize the impact of what he did.

What are some alternatives to saying "was blind to"?

You can use alternatives such as "was unaware of", "was oblivious to", or "failed to notice" to convey a similar meaning of lacking awareness or understanding.

Is it correct to say "I am blind to" in present tense?

Yes, you can use "I am blind to" in the present tense to express a current lack of awareness. For example, "I am blind to the solution" means you currently do not see the solution. In present continuous you can also say "I am being blind to" if you imply a kind of behaviour.

What's the difference between "was blind to" and "ignored"?

"Was blind to" implies a lack of awareness or understanding, whereas "ignored" suggests a conscious decision to disregard something. Someone who ""was blind to"" something simply didn't see it, while someone who ignored something was aware of it but chose to pay no attention.