was sometimes

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was sometimes" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something occurred occasionally or at certain times in the past. Example: "He was sometimes late to meetings, but he always made up for it with his hard work."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I was sometimes lonely.

The New York Times

He was sometimes politically naive.

The Economist

His generosity was sometimes misunderstood.

The Economist

Lacquer also was sometimes engraved.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Their lobbying was sometimes hyperbolic.

The Economist

The result was sometimes comic.

The Economist

He was sometimes steely.

The New York Times

He was sometimes miserable.

The New York Times - Sports

The help was sometimes surprisingly concrete.

The New York Times

Yes, the sound was sometimes overpowering.

The New York Times - Arts

"Wanna get high?" was sometimes successful.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was sometimes" to indicate that a condition or action occurred intermittently in the past. It helps create a nuanced description, avoiding the implication of constant or never happening.

Common error

Avoid relying too heavily on "was sometimes", especially when more precise adverbs of frequency (e.g., rarely, frequently, occasionally) would provide a clearer and more engaging description. Overuse can make your writing sound repetitive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was sometimes" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating the frequency of a past action or state. It modifies the verb "was", specifying that the action or state occurred intermittently rather than consistently. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Encyclopedias

14%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was sometimes" functions as an adverbial modifier to denote that something happened occasionally in the past. According to Ludwig AI, its usage is grammatically correct and commonly employed across diverse contexts. The primary contexts for this phrase include News & Media, Encyclopedias, and Science, reflecting its versatility and widespread applicability. While several alternative phrases exist, such as "occasionally was" or "at times was", "was sometimes" effectively conveys the intended meaning in a clear and concise manner. To enhance writing precision, avoid overuse and consider more specific adverbs of frequency when appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

used to be occasionally

Emphasizes the past occurrence and occasional nature.

at times was

Inverts the order of words for emphasis on the time frame.

on occasion was

Highlights the specific instances when something happened.

would occasionally be

Uses 'would' to indicate a repeated action in the past.

periodically was

Emphasizes the regular intervals at which something happened.

every so often was

Implies less frequency than other options.

from time to time was

Indicates irregular intervals.

now and then was

Suggests infrequent occurrence.

every now and again was

Suggests infrequent and irregular occurrence.

there were times when it was

Rephrases for a more narrative style.

FAQs

How can I use "was sometimes" in a sentence?

You can use "was sometimes" to indicate that something happened occasionally or intermittently in the past. For example, "He "was sometimes late" to meetings."

What are some alternatives to "was sometimes"?

Alternatives include "occasionally was", "at times was", or "used to be occasionally", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "was sometimes"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. It follows the standard subject-verb-adverb order and is commonly used to express intermittent past occurrences.

What's the difference between "was sometimes" and "was always"?

"Was sometimes" indicates that something happened only on occasion, while "was always" implies that it happened consistently or without exception. They express opposite ends of a frequency spectrum.