was originally written

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was originally written" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe the origin of something that has been written such as a book, a story, or a script. For example: "The book 'Alice in Wonderland' was originally written by Lewis Carroll in 1865."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It was originally written for and used at the 1975 Origins 1 convention.

Wikipedia

(It was originally written for Fiesta).

The Guardian - Books

It was originally written in Dutch!

The Guardian

What you saw was not what was originally written.

The New York Times

The book, actually three novellas, was originally written in Hindi.

The New York Times

The Nicene Creed was originally written in Greek.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The role was originally written for two actresses.

The New York Times

This article was originally written for Panos London.

The Guardian

"Freshwater" was originally written in 1923 and revised in 1935.

The New York Times

This document was originally written by David Gries to accompany the Java version of CS1110.

Cornell University

It is easy to forget that Schoenberg's Pierrot Lunaire was originally written for an actress.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase, make sure to provide context regarding who wrote it and why for a clearer understanding.

Common error

Avoid using "was originally written" without clarifying the context. For example, instead of saying "The play was originally written as a comedy", specify "The play "was originally written" as a comedy, but was later adapted into a tragedy."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was originally written" functions as part of the passive voice, indicating that the subject of the sentence received the action of being written. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage across varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Wiki

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Science

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was originally written" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote the initial authorship or creation of a text. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely accepted and appears across various sources like news articles, academic papers, and encyclopedias. When using this phrase, ensure to provide adequate context about the author and purpose for clarity. Consider alternatives like "was initially composed" or "was first drafted" for nuanced meanings. Avoiding ambiguity in context is crucial. Understanding this will help you deploy the expression with confidence and clarity in your written work.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was initially composed

Replaces "written" with "composed", suggesting a more artistic or musical origin.

was first drafted

Emphasizes the initial drafting stage of the writing process.

was conceived as

Focuses on the initial idea or concept behind the writing.

was created for

Highlights the purpose or intended audience of the writing.

was penned by

Emphasizes the author or writer of the piece.

originated as

Shifts the focus to the origin or source of the writing.

was the original version

Highlights it being the first version.

was initially intended as

Focuses on the initial plan.

started out as

Highlights the initial form or state.

was developed from

Highlights the development of something from a source.

FAQs

How can I use "was originally written" in a sentence?

Use "was originally written" to indicate the initial form or purpose of a piece of writing. For instance, "This article /s/article+was+originally+written for a different publication".

What are some alternatives to "was originally written"?

You can use phrases like "was initially composed", "was first drafted", or "was conceived as" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say "is originally written" instead of "was originally written"?

No, "is originally written" is grammatically incorrect. Use "was originally written" to indicate that something was written in the past.

What is the difference between "was originally written" and "was later revised"?

"Was originally written" indicates the initial creation of a text, while "was later revised" indicates that changes were made to the text after its initial creation.