was not prevalent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was not prevalent" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something was not common or widespread during a particular time or in a specific context. Example: "During the early 20th century, the use of personal computers was not prevalent among the general population."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

Until recently, however, such involvement was not prevalent, and it has been common to refer to a sterile, dull-looking space as "looking like a hospital".

Encyclopedia Britannica

When John Boulos, who lives in Croton-on-Hudson, was growing up in the Bronx in the 1960's, he had to travel in search of a soccer game because the sport was not prevalent.

The New York Times

This intrinsic value was not prevalent during the dot-com bubble.

TechCrunch

However, this type of chemistry was not prevalent under the conditions investigated based on the patent literature [6, 17].

Applied Petrochemical Research

On the one hand, the extent to which they provided meaningful links to a summary of the data, such as reference to centre or average or most, was not prevalent; however, we did not specifically introduce the formal notions of mean, median and mode, because these are not part of their fourth-grade curriculum.

International Journal of STEM Education

The pilot suggested that substance abuse was not prevalent among recipients of government benefits.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

Use of the word "gender" — in lieu of "sex," "sexuality," or "sexual orientation" — wasn't prevalent yet.

The New Yorker

I grew up in the Okanagan, where that sort of thing wasn't prevalent.

Vice

I grew up in a small town where that sort of thing wasn't prevalent.

Vice

Computer communication wasn't prevalent in the 1990s, so "we had to letter each other when I went back to Japan," Miwako says.

Huffington Post

Aegypti is not prevalent in New York, but the health department isn't taking any chances.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was not prevalent", ensure the context clearly indicates the time period or situation in which something was uncommon. This helps avoid ambiguity and provides a clearer understanding for the reader.

Common error

Avoid assuming "was not prevalent" implies complete absence. It simply means something was not common; it could still have existed but to a lesser extent. Acknowledge the possibility of exceptions or limited occurrences to maintain accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was not prevalent" functions as a descriptive statement, indicating that a particular condition, practice, or phenomenon was uncommon or not widespread within a specific context. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

46%

News & Media

29%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was not prevalent" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to convey that something was uncommon or not widespread. As Ludwig AI points out, it's a correct and usable phrase. Analyzing various examples, it is evident that this phrase appears across a range of contexts, particularly in scientific and news-related domains. Related phrases like "was uncommon" or "was infrequent" can provide subtle shifts in meaning. Remember to clarify the time or context for better understanding and avoid assuming complete absence when using this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was not widespread

Directly indicates that something didn't occur across a large area or among many people.

was uncommon

Replaces "prevalent" with a more straightforward synonym, indicating something wasn't often seen.

was infrequent

Focuses on the low frequency of occurrence, suggesting something happened rarely.

was scarce

Emphasizes the limited availability or presence of something.

was rare

Highlights the unusual or exceptional nature of something due to its limited occurrence.

was atypical

Suggests something deviated from the norm or expected pattern.

was exceptional

Emphasizes the unusualness of something, often implying it was better or different.

was the exception

Indicates that something occurred outside of the usual or expected circumstances.

was in short supply

Highlights that something was limited in quantity or availability.

didn't happen often

Simplifies the meaning to a more informal and direct expression of infrequent occurrence.

FAQs

How can I use "was not prevalent" in a sentence?

You can use "was not prevalent" to indicate that something was uncommon or not widespread during a particular time or in a specific context. For example, "During the early 20th century, the use of personal computers "was not prevalent" among the general population."

What can I say instead of "was not prevalent"?

You can use alternatives like "was uncommon", "was infrequent", or "was not widespread" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "was not prevalent" or "was rare"?

Both "was not prevalent" and "was rare" indicate something was uncommon. "Was rare" emphasizes the scarcity or unusualness of something, while "was not prevalent" focuses on the lack of widespread occurrence. The better choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What's the difference between "was not prevalent" and "was absent"?

"Was not prevalent" means something was uncommon or not widespread, implying it existed to some extent. "Was absent", on the other hand, means something did not exist at all. For example, saying that cars "were not prevalent" in 1800s means that they existed but they were not common, while saying that cars "were absent" in 1600s means they did not exist in that period.