was historically

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was historically" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something happened in the past, and to provide context based on past events. For example, "Scotland was historically a part of the United Kingdom."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

— it was historically an urban game.

The New York Times

The film, he says, was "historically ridiculous".

The New Yorker

It was, historically speaking, a good price.

The Economist

The Revolution was historically necessary.

The New Yorker

Therefore it was historically empty.

The New Yorker

Michigan was historically bad last year on defense.

The New York Times

Scotland was historically rich in sects.

The New Yorker

The Pirates' Charlie Morton was historically terrible in 2010.

The New York Times

The southernmost end was historically an industrial area.

The New York Times

Another of the imitations, however, was historically significant.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Fashion, she points out, was historically sold through intimate salons.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was historically", ensure that the historical context is relevant to the point you are making and adds value to the discussion.

Common error

Avoid using "was historically" to make sweeping generalizations about the past. Ensure your statements are supported by evidence and acknowledge nuances and exceptions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was historically" functions as a temporal adverbial phrase indicating that something existed or occurred in the past. As supported by Ludwig, it connects past conditions to present understanding.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

31%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

7%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was historically" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to denote past conditions and provide historical context. According to Ludwig, it is suitable for various contexts, from news and media to scientific and academic writing. The phrase functions as a temporal adverbial, helping to explain how past states relate to the present. When using "was historically", ensure that the historical context is relevant and supports your point, and avoid overgeneralizations. Considering Ludwig's analysis and examples, "was historically" remains a valuable tool for adding depth and understanding to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

historically was

Reverses the order of words, but maintains the same meaning with a slightly different emphasis.

used to be

Indicates a past state that is no longer true.

in the past was

Emphasizes the time frame of the past condition.

formerly was

Uses a more formal term to indicate a past state.

once was

Highlights a past state that existed at one time.

traditionally was

Indicates a condition that was customary in the past.

had been

Uses the past perfect tense to emphasize the completion of a state before another point in the past.

at one time was

Stresses that the condition existed at a specific point in the past.

in earlier times was

Emphasizes a condition that existed in more remote past times.

prior to this was

Highlights a state that existed before a specific reference point.

FAQs

How can I use "was historically" in a sentence?

Use "was historically" to describe a past condition or state. For example, "The region "was historically" known for its agricultural production".

What phrases are similar to "was historically"?

Similar phrases include "used to be", "formerly was", and "in the past was", which also describe past states or conditions.

Is it always necessary to use "was historically" when describing past events?

No, "was historically" is useful when you want to emphasize a contrast between a past state and the present, or to provide relevant background information. Otherwise, simpler past tense constructions may suffice.

What is the difference between "was historically" and "is historically"?

"Was historically" refers to something that existed or was true in the past but may not be so now. "Is historically" is generally incorrect, unless you are referring to something that is significant from a historical perspective in the present. It's better to use "is historically significant".