was pertaining to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was pertaining to" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct form would be "pertained to." Example: "The discussion was pertaining to the recent changes in policy."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The phrase that pushed him over the edge was "pertaining to notation 6A to chapter 2" — one of those rare things that's funnier in the original German.

The New Yorker

"Obviously this was pertaining to the $100,000 that we gave to what I'm told is called the housekeeping account," the mayor said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

"Looks like most of the worries in the U.S. market were pertaining to Europe," he said.

The New York Times

If there is too much information for the back of your photo, please attach it, clearly marking the photo it is pertaining to.

The Guardian

The company's policy on the legal use of products sold, Ms. Jamil said, is for the sales staff to inform patrons at the time of sale what the laws are pertaining to the item bought.

The New York Times

The numbers refer to the years 2005 2016, which were pertaining to this article.

Egyptian Journal of Forensic Sciences

This section is pertaining to the selection of the value for r g.

Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy

These results are pertaining to applications where new automatic vehicle feature are to be designed.

IFAC Proceedings Volumes

More than 34% of total water production is pertaining to this time.

Desalination

It is noted that the mechanisms involved in drug resistance of cancer cells are pertaining to multifactor processes.

Nanoscale Res Lett

These postmaterial values represent a kind of social structure that is pertaining to the sixth Kondratieff wave.

European Journal of Futures Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use more standard and grammatically correct alternatives like "related to", "concerning", or "regarding" to ensure clarity and credibility in your writing.

Common error

Avoid combining "pertaining to" with auxiliary verbs like "was", "were", or "is" as it often leads to grammatically awkward phrasing. Instead, use "related to" or rephrase the sentence for better clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was pertaining to" functions as a prepositional phrase intended to indicate relevance or relationship. However, Ludwig AI indicates that it is grammatically incorrect. Standard alternatives like "related to" or "concerning" are preferred.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

35%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "was pertaining to" appears in various sources, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. It aims to indicate relevance or relationship but falls short due to awkward phrasing. Standard alternatives such as "related to", "concerning", and "regarding" provide clearer and more effective communication. It's essential to prioritize grammatical correctness and clarity, especially in formal and professional writing, by opting for these more accepted alternatives. The phrase is most often found in scientific and news media contexts, but its low frequency and grammatical issues suggest avoiding it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

related to

This is a more concise and grammatically sound way of expressing connection or relevance.

concerning

A direct synonym indicating the subject or topic being addressed.

regarding

Similar to 'concerning' but can also imply respect or consideration.

applicable to

Indicates that something has relevance or can be applied to a specific situation.

relevant to

Highlights the pertinence or importance of something in relation to a specific topic.

connected to

Emphasizes a direct link or association between two things.

associated with

Suggests a correlation or common occurrence with something else.

in reference to

Used to specifically point out the subject or topic being discussed.

with respect to

Highlights a particular aspect or viewpoint when discussing something.

bearing on

Indicates that something has an influence or impact on a specific matter.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "was pertaining to"?

Instead of "was pertaining to", you can use phrases like "was related to", "concerned", or "regarding" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to use "was pertaining to"?

No, "was pertaining to" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. The correct form is often "pertained to" or using alternative phrases like "was related to".

How can I rephrase a sentence using "was pertaining to" to make it more clear?

Instead of saying "The discussion was pertaining to the new policy", try "The discussion "was about" the new policy" or "The discussion "related to" the new policy" for better clarity.

When should I use "pertained to" instead of "was pertaining to"?

Use "pertained to" as the past tense of "pertain." For example, "The documents pertained to the case." Avoid "was pertaining to" as it is grammatically awkward. Consider alternatives like "was related to" or "concerned" when rephrasing.