was ongoing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was ongoing" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is usually used to describe an activity that started before the present moment and has yet to be completed. For example, "The conversation was ongoing when the phone rang."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

My case was ongoing.

Independent

It was ongoing".

The New York Times

Yet this was "ongoing".

The Guardian - Tech

One was ongoing at 10.30am.

The Guardian

HMRC said its investigation was ongoing.

Independent

Police said the inquiry was ongoing.

The Guardian

An investigation was ongoing, Bogopane-Zulu added.

The Guardian

He said that investigation was ongoing.

The New York Times

"The investigation," reports the log, was "ongoing".

The Guardian

His background check was ongoing, they said.

The Washington Post

A spokesman said a larger trial was ongoing.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was ongoing", ensure the context clearly indicates what process or activity is being referred to, to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid shifting from past continuous ("was ongoing") to present tense without reason. Maintain consistent tense throughout the description of the event or process.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was ongoing" functions as a past continuous tense construction. According to Ludwig AI, it describes an action or state that started in the past and continued for a period of time. Examples show it used to describe investigations, trials, and construction projects.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

24%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was ongoing" is a grammatically correct and frequently used way to describe a past action or process that continued for a period of time. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's most commonly found in news and media, science, and business contexts. When using this phrase, ensure tense consistency and clearly identify the subject matter. Consider alternatives like "was in progress" or "was continuing" for nuanced variations. Understanding the context will help you employ "was ongoing" effectively in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was in progress

Replaces "ongoing" with a more general term for something happening now.

was underway

Implies something has started and is currently happening.

was continuing

Highlights the uninterrupted nature of the activity.

was proceeding

Emphasizes the forward movement of an event or process.

was being conducted

Specifically denotes an organized activity that is taking place.

was developing

Suggests a gradual unfolding or evolution of an event.

was unfolding

Conveys a sense of events revealing themselves over time.

was remaining active

Focuses on the persistence and sustained engagement in an action.

was being pursued

Highlights active efforts towards a goal.

was remaining in effect

Focuses on the continuous validity or application of a rule or law.

FAQs

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

Use "was ongoing" to describe an action or event that started in the past and continued for some time. For example, "The investigation "was ongoing" when new evidence surfaced."

What are some alternatives to "was ongoing"?

Depending on the specific context, you could use alternatives like "was in progress", "was continuing", or "was underway".

Is it correct to say "is ongoing" instead of "was ongoing"?

The correct tense depends on the timing. "Is ongoing" describes something happening now, whereas "was ongoing" describes something that happened in the past and continued for some time. Choose the tense based on when the action occurred or is occurring.

What is the difference between "was ongoing" and "had been ongoing"?

"Was ongoing" describes a continuous action in the past. "Had been ongoing" describes an action that started and continued for some time before another point in the past. For example, "The project "was ongoing" in 2020" versus "The project "had been ongoing" for two years when the pandemic started."