was simple to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was simple to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that was easy to accomplish or understand in the past. Example: "The task was simple to complete, requiring only a few minutes of my time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Once installed, it was simple to use.

The Guardian - Tech

His conflict was simple: to stay or to leave.

The New Yorker

Gadad's aim was simple: "To score at least one goal".

The Guardian - Sport

Fortunately, my goal was simple: to stay standing.

The New York Times

My goal was simple, to run a mile.

The New York Times - Arts

The smell of death was simple to answer.

The New Yorker

In theory, Long's goal was simple: to eliminate unnecessary movement.

The New York Times - Sports

His aim was simple: to improve efficiency and save money.

The Economist

Their aim was simple: to create a spiritual successor to the original Banjo-Kazooie vision.

The Guardian - Tech

At no time did the service misunderstand my voice, and it was simple to navigate.

The New York Times - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Her goal was simple -- to make teen girls living in a foster care facility feel beautiful; her idea -- BIG.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was simple to" when you want to clearly communicate that a task, process, or concept presented little to no difficulty in the past. It implies a level of ease and accessibility.

Common error

While "was simple to" is grammatically correct, avoid overusing it in formal writing. Alternatives like "was straightforward" or "presented no significant challenges" can lend a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was simple to" functions as an adjective phrase followed by an infinitive. It primarily modifies a noun or pronoun, describing its quality of being easy or uncomplicated to perform a specific action. Ludwig's examples show its common use in describing tasks, instructions, or processes.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Academia

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was simple to" is a grammatically sound and usable expression in English that indicates something was easy or uncomplicated. According to Ludwig, this phrase is most commonly found in News & Media and Science contexts. While generally neutral in register, it's best to avoid overuse in overly formal writing, opting for alternatives like "was straightforward to". Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical correctness and common usage of "was simple to", marking it a reliable choice for expressing ease.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was easy to

Direct synonym emphasizing the lack of difficulty.

was not hard to

Simple negation of difficulty, emphasizing ease.

was straightforward to

Highlights the directness and lack of complications.

was uncomplicated to

Highlights the lack of complexity.

was effortless to

Stresses the minimal effort required.

was undemanding to

Suggests that the task required little of one's abilities or time.

required minimal effort to

Focuses on the low amount of effort needed.

presented no difficulty in

Formal alternative emphasizing the absence of problems.

posed no challenge to

Emphasizes the lack of difficulty or opposition.

was a breeze to

Informal expression for ease of completion.

FAQs

How can I use "was simple to" in a sentence?

You can use "was simple to" to describe an action or task that required little effort or was easy to understand. For example, "The instructions "were simple to follow".".

What are some alternatives to "was simple to"?

Alternatives include "was easy to", "was straightforward to", or "was uncomplicated to" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "was simple at" instead of "was simple to"?

No, "was simple at" is grammatically incorrect. The correct construction is "was simple to" followed by the infinitive form of a verb (e.g., "was simple to understand").

What's the difference between "was simple to" and "was easy to"?

While both phrases convey a lack of difficulty, "was simple to" often suggests a lack of complexity, whereas "was easy to" emphasizes a lack of effort. They are often interchangeable, but the subtle difference in connotation can be relevant in some contexts.