was in preparation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was in preparation" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something was being arranged or organized in the past. Example: "The event was in preparation for several months before the official announcement."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

While our manuscript was in preparation, Hoffmann et al. [24] reported a Siglecg-deficient mouse prepared with ES cells from the BALB/c.

Plosone

Kraken was published and his new novel, Embassytown, was in preparation.

The Guardian - Books

All this was in preparation for a creative constipation that never actually occurred.

The Guardian

The film was in preparation at the time of Mr. Hitchcock's death.

The Washington Post

A German translation of Eddington 1923 was in preparation and appeared as Eddington 1925.

Princeton University

This was in preparation for a parents' meeting at Taft H.S. at which he would represent the board chairperson.

The New York Times

At the time of his death, the book had been through eight editions, and a ninth was in preparation.

The New York Times

The Treaty of Versailles was in preparation, and this necessitated strenuous days of work and delicate negotiations.

Britannica

A military source told AFP the bombardment was in preparation for a ground operation which had not yet begun.

The Guardian

The comments were provided by the agency on 17 November, when the story was in preparation, and should have been included under normal Guardian reporting practice.

The Guardian

William N. Smith, the executive director of Fish Unlimited, a Shelter Island-based environmental group, said he doubted that the dredging was in preparation for reseeding.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was in preparation", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being prepared and for what purpose. This helps avoid ambiguity and strengthens the sentence's clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "was in preparation" when the subject is already completed or finalized. This phrase denotes an ongoing process, not a past event. For a completed item, use "was prepared" or "was completed" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was in preparation" functions as a past continuous passive construction. It describes an action (preparation) that was ongoing at a specific point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms that this is a standard and grammatically sound construction.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

37%

News & Media

35%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was in preparation" is a grammatically correct and commonly used construction to describe something that was in the process of being prepared at a particular time in the past. As Ludwig AI illustrates, its use spans diverse contexts, including science, news, and academia, with a neutral to formal register. When using the phrase, ensure the context clearly defines what is being prepared and avoid using it for finalized items. Alternatives like "was being prepared" or "was under development" may be suitable depending on the specific meaning you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was being prepared

This alternative uses the passive voice to emphasize the process of preparation.

was under development

This phrase suggests that something was being actively worked on and improved.

was being planned

This emphasizes the planning stage of an event or project.

was being organized

Focuses on the organizational aspects of getting something ready.

was in the works

This is a more informal way of saying that something was being developed or prepared.

was in the process of being created

This alternative emphasizes the creation aspect, suggesting something new was being made.

was being drafted

Implies that a document or plan was being written.

was in the pipeline

Suggests that something was in a sequence of processes leading to completion.

was being formulated

This implies that an idea or plan was taking shape.

was gestating

This is a more metaphorical way of saying that something was developing slowly over time.

FAQs

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

You can use "was in preparation" to describe something that was being arranged, planned, or developed at a specific time in the past. For example: "The event "was in preparation" for several months."

What are some alternatives to "was in preparation"?

Some alternatives include "was being prepared", "was under development", or "was being planned" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "is in preparation" or should I always use "was in preparation"?

Use "is in preparation" to describe something currently being prepared. Use "was in preparation" to describe something that was being prepared at a point in the past. The correct tense depends on the time frame you are referencing.

What's the difference between "was in preparation" and "was prepared"?

"Was in preparation" indicates an ongoing process of getting something ready, while "was prepared" indicates that the process is complete. For example, "The meal "was in preparation"" means it was being cooked, while "The meal "was prepared"" means it was ready to be eaten.