was split

USAGE SUMMARY

"was split" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that something was divided or separated into two or more parts. For example: The profits from the sale were split among the team members.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The reaction was split.

The New York Times

Public opinion was split.

The Economist

It was split already.

The Washington Post

Western reaction was split.

The Washington Post

The room was split.

The Guardian

His archdiocese was split.

The Guardian

The town was split.

The New York Times - Science

Later, the AEC was split.

Nuclear Energy An Introduction to the Concepts, Systems, and Applications of Nuclear Processes

In deliberation, the panel was split.

The New Yorker

At one point, the screen was split.

The New York Times

In 2010 the share was split evenly.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was split" when you want to emphasize that something was separated or divided into distinct parts, often with the implication of a prior whole. For example, "The team was split into two groups" indicates a deliberate separation.

Common error

Avoid using "was split" when the action is ongoing or continuous. Use "is being split" or "is splitting" instead. For example, instead of "The atom was split in the experiment now", say "The atom is being split in the experiment now."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was split" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that the subject underwent an action of division or separation. This construction is commonly used to describe how something was divided, as demonstrated by examples in Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

32%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was split" is a versatile passive verb phrase used to indicate a past action of division or separation. According to Ludwig, it’s grammatically correct and frequently appears in diverse contexts, ranging from news and media to scientific and academic writing. When writing, it's important to use "was split" to describe past events, considering alternatives like "was divided" or "was separated" for nuances. The phrase is suitable for neutral register and its high frequency, as confirmed by Ludwig, indicates its broad acceptance and usability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was divided

Replaces "split" with a more general term for separation.

was partitioned

Implies a more formal or structured division.

was separated

Emphasizes the act of becoming distinct or detached.

was shared

Focuses on the distribution aspect, where something is divided among multiple recipients.

was allocated

Implies a deliberate assignment of portions.

was distributed

Suggests a spreading out or dispersal of something.

was bisected

Indicates a division into two equal parts.

was cleaved

Implies a forceful or sharp separation.

was fragmented

Suggests breaking into many small pieces.

was ruptured

Implies a sudden and forceful breaking apart.

FAQs

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

Use "was split" to indicate that something has been divided or separated. For example, "The cost "was split" evenly between them" or "The class "was split" into smaller groups for the project".

What are some alternatives to the phrase "was split"?

Some alternatives include phrases like "was divided", "was separated", or "was partitioned", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "was split" or should I use "has been split"?

Both "was split" and "has been split" are grammatically correct, but they indicate different time frames. "Was split" refers to a completed action in the past, while "has been split" indicates an action completed at some point before the present. For instance, "The prize "was split" last year" versus "The prize "has been split" every year since 2020".

What's the difference between "was split" and "split"?

"Was split" is the past passive form of the verb "split", indicating that something was acted upon, whereas "split" can be the past simple or present form. For example, "The wood "was split" by the axe" (passive voice) versus "He split the wood" (active voice).