was increasingly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was increasingly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or condition that is becoming more pronounced or frequent over time. Example: "The noise from the construction site was increasingly disturbing the residents in the area."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Diphtheria was increasingly common.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Quantrill's leadership was increasingly questioned.

The New York Times

He was increasingly depressed.

The New York Times

Campbell was increasingly frustrated.

The New Yorker

This was increasingly difficult.

The New York Times - Books

As Scientology grew, it was increasingly attacked.

The New Yorker

The hostile atmosphere was increasingly unnerving.

The New Yorker

In the 1780s censorship was increasingly desultory.

Encyclopedia Britannica

He was increasingly ceding authority to Shawn.

The New Yorker

But Anderson was increasingly on her own.

The New Yorker

His mobility was increasingly limited.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was increasingly" to accurately portray gradual change or intensification. For instance, "The pressure to meet deadlines was increasingly affecting employee morale" effectively communicates a growing concern.

Common error

Avoid overuse. While "was increasingly" is correct, varied sentence structure can improve writing quality. Instead of saying "The situation was increasingly tense", consider "The situation grew tenser" or "Tensions rose."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was increasingly" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating a progressive change or intensification of a state, quality, or action. Ludwig shows examples where it describes gradual developments across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

22%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was increasingly" serves to denote a gradual change or progression. As Ludwig AI confirms, its grammatical structure is correct, and it's frequently used across diverse sources like news, scientific articles, and encyclopedias. It's important to note that while the phrase is versatile and fits many contexts, overuse can be avoided by incorporating synonyms such as "grew steadily" or "became more and more".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

became more and more

Emphasizes the gradual change over time, focusing on the accumulation of the change.

grew steadily

Highlights the consistent and continuous nature of the growth or change.

progressed gradually

Focuses on the step-by-step nature of the advancement or development.

developed more and more

Highlights the evolution or unfolding of something over time.

escalated continuously

Implies a relentless and upward trajectory of change or intensity.

intensified over time

Specifically emphasizes the increasing strength or severity of something.

saw a gradual rise

Indicates a slow and steady upward trend.

exhibited a growing trend

Highlights the presence of an emerging pattern or tendency.

turned progressively

Emphasizes a turning or transformation that becomes more prominent over time.

extended bit by bit

Highlights the small but steady steps that lead to the extension.

FAQs

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

The phrase "was increasingly" indicates a gradual increase or progression. For example, "The cost of living "was increasingly" becoming a concern for many families" shows a growing worry about living expenses.

What are some alternatives to the phrase "was increasingly"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "became more and more", "grew steadily", or "progressed gradually" to convey a similar meaning.

Is there a difference between "was increasingly" and "became increasingly"?

Both "was increasingly" and "became increasingly" suggest a gradual increase. However, "became increasingly" might imply a more noticeable change than "was increasingly". For example, "The problem became increasingly difficult" suggests a more significant shift than "The problem "was increasingly" difficult."

Can "was increasingly" be used with any adjective?

Yes, "was increasingly" can be used with most adjectives to describe a gradual increase in that quality. For example, "The task "was increasingly" challenging" or "The weather "was increasingly" hot" are both grammatically correct.