was past due

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was past due" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something, such as a payment or a deadline, has not been met by the expected time. Example: "The invoice was past due, and we needed to follow up with the client for payment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

He was past due for release.

The New York Times

While he welcomed Abadi's announcement, he said, it was "past due".

The Guardian

The water bill was past due, and Gaither, who was renting the house, was facing eviction.

The New Yorker

I was past due on a credit card and got a call from a debt collector.

The New York Times

Mr. Girotra tried to pay the small amount that was past due, but the principal refused to accept his money.

The New York Times

He referred to recent resolutions by the United States Senate and House of Representatives apologizing for slavery as evidence that the name change was past due.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

It's past due".

Independent

The city's teachers are past due for a raise.

The New York Times

"This ruling means that the lottery is past due.

The New York Times

By contrast, 30.48percentt of subprime loans were past due or in foreclosure, up from 29.53 percent.

The New York Times

Among the loans surveyed, about 3.6 million were past due or in foreclosure.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was past due", ensure that the context clearly indicates what is overdue, such as a payment, task, or deadline. For example, instead of just saying "The payment was past due", specify "The invoice payment was past due."

Common error

Avoid using "was past due" without clearly stating what is overdue. For instance, don't just say "It was past due"; specify "The report submission was past due" to avoid ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was past due" functions as an adjectival phrase that modifies a noun, indicating that a deadline or expected completion date has passed. It describes a state of being overdue, as supported by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was past due" is used to indicate that something was not completed or paid by the expected time, according to Ludwig. It functions as an adjectival phrase, commonly found in news and media contexts. While grammatically correct, ensure clarity by specifying what exactly "was past due". Alternatives like "was overdue" or "was late" can be used for similar meaning, as confirmed by Ludwig.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was overdue

Replaces "past due" with "overdue", maintaining the meaning of exceeding the expected time.

was late

Uses a simpler term, "late", to convey the lateness of something.

was delayed

Focuses on the aspect of being delayed beyond the scheduled time.

was outstanding

Highlights that something is still not completed or paid.

had lapsed

Emphasizes that a deadline or validity period has expired.

was delinquent

Indicates a failure to fulfill an obligation or payment.

had expired

Implies the termination of a valid period or agreement.

was in arrears

Specifically refers to being behind in payments.

was mature

Indicates the time for payment or action has arrived and passed.

was owing

Focuses on the aspect of something still being owed or due.

FAQs

What's the difference between "was past due" and "was overdue"?

The phrases "was past due" and "was overdue" are largely interchangeable, both indicating that something should have been completed or paid before the current time. "Was overdue" is slightly more common in general usage.

How to use "was past due" in a sentence?

You can use "was past due" to indicate that a payment, task, or deadline has not been met by the expected time. For example: "The rent was past due, and the landlord sent a notice."

What can I say instead of "was past due"?

You can use alternatives like "was late", "was delayed", or "was outstanding" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "is past due" instead of "was past due"?

The correct tense depends on the context. "Is past due" refers to something currently overdue, while "was past due" refers to something that was overdue at a point in the past. For example: "The payment is past due now" vs "The payment was past due last week."