was same

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was same" is not correct in standard written English. It can be used in informal contexts, but it is generally better to use "was the same." Example: "The result was the same as last time." Alternative expressions include "was identical" and "was unchanged."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

So it was same old Terry, David Wrightt said.

The New York Times - Sports

Unfortunately for Hodgson, this was same old England.

The Guardian - Sport

In 2009 was same excitement but w/ insults;this #election has no disrespect.

The New York Times

Over on Centre Court it was same old, same old from Sabine Lisicki.

Independent

Acquisition parameter was same for each experiment.

Protein & Cell

The combination of alkaloids 1 6 was same so.

Fitoterapia

The oocyte maturation rate was same across the groups.

Theriogenology

Pre-treatment of the specimens was same as gravimetric measurements.

International Journal of Industrial Chemistry

The order of ions was same for groundwater as well as surface water.

Applied Water Science

The Southern hybridization pattern was same for all the transgenic plants from the same examined line.

Rice

The relative configuration of 4 was same with 1 (Supporting Information, Figure S27).

Natural Products and Bioprospecting

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was same" only in highly technical contexts where space is limited, such as in data tables or brief figure legends, but avoid it in the body of your text

Common error

Many writers, especially in scientific fields, omit the word "the" to be concise. However, writing "the result was same" instead of "the result was the same" makes the text sound telegraphic and non-native. Standard English requires the article because "same" functions as an adjective that usually identifies a specific, previously mentioned state.

Linguistic Context

In the phrase "was same", the word "was" acts as a linking verb and "same" acts as a predicate adjective. In standard English, the word "same" is nearly always preceded by the definite article "the" when it is used to indicate identity or similarity. Ludwig AI notes that the omission of "the" creates a telegraphic style common in technical reporting but incorrect in prose.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

85%

News & Media

10%

Technical Reports

5%

Less common in

Fiction Literature

1%

General Conversation

2%

Legal Documents

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was same" is a common occurrence in specialized fields, particularly within scientific literature and occasionally in quick news snippets. However, as noted by Ludwig AI, it is technically considered an error in standard English. The definite article is almost always required, making "was the same" the preferred choice for all professional and academic writing. While the high frequency of this phrase in data-driven contexts suggests it has become an accepted shorthand among researchers, writers should be careful not to adopt this habit in general prose or formal essays where grammatical precision is expected. To ensure your writing is both clear and correct, it is best to use "was the same" or opt for more descriptive alternatives like "remained unchanged".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was the same

Adds the necessary definite article for standard grammatical correctness

stayed the same

A more common conversational alternative using a different linking verb

remained unchanged

Emphasizes the lack of change over time with a more formal verb

was unchanged

A concise alternative that focuses on the state of the object

was identical

Stronger emphasis on the exactness of the match

was consistent

Often used in science to show that results match previous findings

did not vary

Focuses on the absence of fluctuations or differences

was equivalent

Suggests being equal in value or function rather than just appearance

matched

Uses a single active verb to describe the relationship between two things

was uniform

Refers to consistency across a whole set or over a period

FAQs

Is it correct to say "was same"?

No, in standard written English, it is not considered correct. According to Ludwig AI, you should generally use "was the same" to be grammatically accurate.

Why do I see "was same" in scientific papers?

In scientific and technical writing, authors sometimes use shorthand to be more concise. While you will find many examples of "was same" in journals like PlosOne or Nature, it is still technically a violation of standard grammar rules.

What is a better way to write "was same as"?

A more natural and correct way to write this is "was the same as" or ""matched"".

Does "was same" sound natural in conversation?

It sounds very informal and slightly incomplete. In spoken English, people almost always say "was the same" or "wasn't any different".