was crack open

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was crack open" is not correct in written English.
It seems to be a mix-up of verb forms and should be "was cracked open" or "is cracked open" depending on the context. Example: "The safe was cracked open by the locksmith after hours of trying different combinations."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

I'd never seen anything like it in my life — and all I could do in response was crack open a beer, smile and take the whole scene in.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Everything was cracking open".

The Guardian

China was cracking open its door.

The Economist

Mr. Neeleman said that he never even considered jumping into the fray at La Guardia when the door was cracked open.

The New York Times

But suddenly the case was cracked open in 2013 when naturalist John Young captured a live one on camera.

The Guardian

"The administration's proposal went nowhere, but Pandora's box was cracked open then," said Diana Aviv, president of the Independent Sector, a trade group for nonprofits.

The New York Times

Our meal was cracked open by finely balanced cocktails, like a foamy take on a pisco sour with the unexpected heft of smoked lemon.

The New York Times - Travel

The door was cracked open just a little bit, and what we're still trying to do is push ourselves through.

The New York Times - Sports

By inaugurating an international piano competition at a time when travel by foreigners to the Soviet Union was restricted, the regime was cracking open a door.

The New York Times - Arts

The market was cracked open by small providers who pressured the local phone giant, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone, a unit of the NTT Group, to enter the fray.

The New York Times

When Mr. Noh's team began digging at various sites in 2007, it was cracking open one of the most divisive chapters in South Korea's modern history.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the correct past participle form "cracked" instead of "crack". Remember that proper verb tense and form contribute significantly to clarity and credibility in writing.

Common error

Avoid using the base form of the verb after "was". Always use the past participle (e.g., "cracked", "broken", "opened") to ensure grammatical accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was crack open" functions as an incorrect verb phrase. It attempts to describe a passive action in the past, but it fails to use the correct past participle form of the verb 'crack'. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the grammatically correct forms would be "was cracked open" or "was opened".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was crack open" is grammatically incorrect in standard English. The correct form is "was cracked open". As Ludwig AI pointed out, use the correct past participle. While the intended meaning is to describe something being opened (often forcefully or unexpectedly), using the incorrect form undermines clarity and credibility. Examples from Ludwig show that authoritative news sources use the correct form, emphasizing the importance of grammatical accuracy for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was opened

Simple change of verb phrase to a more standard construction with similar meaning.

was broken open

Focuses on forceful opening or breaking, implying a more violent action.

was forced open

Emphasizes that effort or force was required to open something.

was slightly ajar

Describes a state of being partially open, contrasting with a complete opening.

was left ajar

Highlights that leaving something slightly open can imply intent or negligence.

had been cracked

Shifts the tense to past perfect, indicating a prior state of being cracked, though not necessarily fully open.

was splintered

Focuses on the damage aspect of cracking, showing disintegration.

is starting to open

Describes an ongoing process of opening, unlike the completed action implied by "was crack open".

began to unfold

More metaphoric use to describe something opening.

yielded slightly

Describes a partial give or opening.

FAQs

How should I properly use the phrase "crack open" in a sentence?

The correct form is "cracked open" when referring to a completed action in the past. For example, "The door "was cracked open" by the wind".

What is a grammatically correct alternative to "was crack open"?

You can use phrases like "was opened" or "was broken open" depending on the intended meaning.

Is "was crack open" ever considered correct in English?

No, "was crack open" is not grammatically correct in standard English. The correct form requires the past participle "cracked". The phrase "cracked open" suggests something being forced or broken to open.

How does the meaning change if I use "was cracked open" instead of "was opened"?

"Was cracked open" implies more force or damage during the opening process compared to the simple phrase "was opened". "Was cracked open" may mean something was opened violently or suddenly.