was commercially available

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was commercially available" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that a product or service was offered for sale to the public at a certain time in the past. Example: "The software was commercially available in 2010, allowing users to access its features for the first time."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

You add, "It would allow the agriculture secretary to approve synthetic substances if no organic substitute was commercially available".

The New York Times

A trained art teacher, she started sewing clothes for her children in 1985 out of dissatisfaction with what was commercially available, then turned her living room clothing parties into a garment business.

The New York Times

However, no such resin was commercially available at the time, and so in 1968, with the help of a sympathetic polymer salesman from Hudson Plastics called Leslie Ketban, Glasser undertook to develop his own.

The Guardian - Books

Featuring both the original Japanese sound track as well as a new professionally recorded English dub, this release marked the first time that the film was commercially available in its original form in the United States.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Android prototypes at the time resembled BlackBerry smartphones with no touchscreen and physical keyboards and buttons, but by the time the first Android handset was commercially available in the form of the HTC Dream or T-mobile G1 in 2008, touchscreens were not only supported but specifically required by Android.

The Guardian - Tech

The Marines could not continue to take "serious and grave casualties" caused by roadside bombs when a solution was commercially available, wrote General Hejlik, who was a commander in western Iraq from June 2004 to February 2005, and who has since been promoted to major general.

The New York Times

The starting gum rosin was commercially available.

Journal of Nanostructure in Chemistry

VSL#3 used was commercially available by VSL Pharmaceuticals Inc.

AMB Express

Potassium chloride (KCl) was commercially available and at analytical grade.

Nanoscale Research Letters

3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTMS) was commercially available from Fluka.

Nanoscale Research Letters

P4VP (MW. 60,000) powder was commercially available (Aldrich Chemical Co. Inc).

Materials for Renewable and Sustainable Energy

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was commercially available" to clearly indicate that a product, service, or technology existed and was offered for sale at a specific point in the past. This helps establish a historical context and avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "is commercially available" when discussing historical contexts. Ensure that the tense aligns with the timeline you're discussing; otherwise, use "was commercially available" to highlight that the availability was in the past.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was commercially available" functions as a descriptive phrase, typically modifying a noun to specify that it existed as a product or service offered for sale to the public at a specific point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms this is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

55%

News & Media

30%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was commercially available" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to indicate that something could be purchased in the past. As Ludwig AI highlights, it's suitable for various contexts, especially in scientific, news, and encyclopedia writing. While alternatives like "was available for purchase" or "was on sale" exist, the original phrase remains a clear and effective way to convey this specific meaning. Ensure the correct tense usage to avoid confusion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was available for purchase

Focuses on the act of purchasing rather than general availability.

was obtainable on the market

Replaces "commercially available" with more descriptive words.

was on sale

A simpler and more direct way of saying something was being sold.

was marketed to the public

Highlights the marketing aspect of making a product available.

could be bought

Emphasizes the possibility of purchase.

was procurable

A more formal term for being able to obtain something.

was retailed

Specifically refers to being sold at a retail level.

was sold commercially

Inverts the order of the words while maintaining the meaning.

was up for sale

Focuses on the state of being offered for sale.

was in the shops

Indicates physical presence in retail locations.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "was commercially available"?

You can use alternatives like "was available for purchase", "was on sale", or "could be bought" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "was commercially available"?

Use "was commercially available" to indicate that a product, service, or technology existed and could be purchased by the public at a specific time in the past. For example, "The first iPhone "was commercially available" in 2007".

What's the difference between "was commercially available" and "is commercially available"?

"Was commercially available" refers to something that used to be on the market but may not be anymore, while "is commercially available" indicates that something is currently being sold.

Is "was commercially available" formal or informal language?

The phrase ""was commercially available"" is considered neutral to formal and can be used in various contexts, including scientific, news, and business writing. However, you might choose a simpler phrase like "was on sale" in more informal situations.