was in between

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was in between" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to mean "was situated in the middle of two things". For example: "The train station was in between two large buildings."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

The ALP activity in hPDLCs was in between hBMSCs (positive control) and fibroblasts (negative control) cultured at the same conditions).

BioMed Research International

He was in between.

The New York Times

I was in between clubs all day".

The New York Times - Sports

"I was in between nerdy and preppy".

The New York Times

"When we had Xavier my husband was in between jobs.

The Guardian - Money

But what a wild ride it was in between.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

"He was in-between, he good and he bad".

The Guardian

He and I had settled on meeting at a cafe that was in-between our offices, but one that neither of us had previously been to.

TechCrunch

He was in-between houses, cutting in-between houses, and he was walking very leisurely for the weather.

Huffington Post

In our material, the survival of interval cancers was in-between the clinical and the screen-detected cancers.

British Journal of Cancer

The pooled subsidence of the uncemented stems was in-between that of cemented force-closed and shape-closed stems.

Acta Orthopaedica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was in between" to clearly indicate that something or someone is located or exists in the space or time separating two distinct entities or points. Ensure that the context provides clarity about what those two entities or points are.

Common error

Avoid using "was in between" without clearly specifying what the subject is positioned between. Vague references can confuse the reader. Always ensure that the two points of reference are explicit and easily understood.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was in between" functions as a linking verb phrase, connecting a subject to a description of its position or state relative to two other entities. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Science

31%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was in between" correctly indicates that something is situated between two points, states, or entities. Ludwig AI confirms the validity of the phrase. It is most frequently found in news media and scientific publications, with a neutral register that makes it suitable for a variety of contexts. When using the phrase, it's important to clearly specify the reference points to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives like "stood midway" or "was intermediate" can be used for variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was intermediate

A more succinct and direct way of expressing the idea of being in the middle.

occupied the middle ground

Highlights a balanced or neutral stance between opposing views.

straddled the divide

Implies balancing between two distinct or opposing sides.

stood midway

Emphasizes a physical positioning at the midpoint.

was equidistant

Similar to "lay at an equal distance" but more formal.

positioned itself centrally

Emphasizes intention in adopting a central position.

found itself centrally located

Focuses on the central location or position.

lay at an equal distance

Focuses on equal spacing from two extremes.

split the difference

Conveys the idea of compromise or averaging.

held a central rank

Suggests the importance of a central position in a ranked list or structure.

FAQs

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

Use "was in between" to show that something is located or exists in the space or time separating two other things. For example: "The restaurant "was in between" the bank and the post office."

What are some alternatives to saying "was in between"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "stood midway", "occupied the middle ground", or "was intermediate".

Is it correct to say "were in between" instead of "was in between"?

Yes, use "were in between" when referring to a plural subject, for example: "The houses "were in between" the park and the school."

What's the difference between "was in between" and "was among"?

"Was in between" specifies something located between two distinct items or points, whereas "was among" indicates something included within a larger group or collection. For example, "The missing file "was in between" two folders" versus "The missing file "was among" several others."