was to discover

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was to discover" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a purpose or intention in the past, often in a narrative or explanatory context. Example: "The main objective of the expedition was to discover new species in the uncharted rainforest."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

("Genre studies," I was to discover, was Grosskurthese for "journalism".

The New Yorker

As I was to discover, this was his trademark.

The New Yorker

Yet I was to discover another, introspective and compassionate, Caravaggio.

The Guardian

To get the dish was to discover otherwise.

The New York Times - Food

How devastating it was to discover, years later, his profound immorality.

The New Yorker

Of course, my real motive was to discover the secret ingredient in their kibbeh dough.

The Guardian

Christine, also from Gumbi - and, I was to discover later, Kennedy's wife - held a malnourished child.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

A challenge for the project was to discover to what extent people tweet about personal issues.

The Guardian

How wonderful it was to discover the country almost entirely on our own.

The Guardian - Travel

"He made sure he discovered everything there was to discover in the material," she said.

The New York Times

But, as I was to discover, I did myself a huge favour that day.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was to discover", ensure that the context clearly indicates a past expectation or intention that subsequently led to a revelation. It's best used in narrative or explanatory writing.

Common error

Avoid using "was to discover" when referring to a present or future intention. This phrase is specifically for describing past expectations or plans.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was to discover" functions as a connector in narratives, indicating a past expectation or an event that led to a subsequent realization or finding. Ludwig examples show its use in describing outcomes or revelations that occurred after a certain point in time. It serves to link events and highlight the process of discovery.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

45%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was to discover" is a versatile connector used primarily in narrative and explanatory writing to link past expectations with subsequent revelations. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent use across various domains, particularly in News & Media and Science. While it maintains a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal contexts, it's crucial to use it accurately to describe past intentions or expectations, as misuse of tense is a common pitfall. Alternatives like "intended to uncover" and "aimed to reveal" can offer similar meanings with subtle nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intended to uncover

Emphasizes a deliberate plan or intention to reveal something previously hidden.

aimed to reveal

Highlights the purpose of revealing something, often after investigation.

sought to find

Focuses on the act of searching for and locating something.

hoped to learn

Indicates a desire to gain knowledge or understanding.

meant to unearth

Suggests digging up or exposing something that was buried or concealed.

set out to prove

Highlights the intention to demonstrate the truth of something through evidence.

had the objective of finding

Formally states the goal of locating something specific.

undertook to explore

Emphasizes a committed effort to investigate and learn about something.

was going to ascertain

Highlights a future action of determining something definitively.

planned to determine

Indicates a structured approach to finding a conclusive answer.

FAQs

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

Use "was to discover" to describe something you learned or found out after a certain period or event in the past. For example: "Later, I "was to discover" the truth about the situation".

What's a good alternative to "was to discover"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "intended to uncover", "aimed to reveal", or "sought to find".

Is "was to discover" formal or informal?

"Was to discover" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal writing, though it is more common in narrative or descriptive contexts.

What is the difference between "was to discover" and "discovered"?

"Was to discover" implies an expectation or a process leading to a discovery, while "discovered" simply states that something was found. For example, "He went to the library and discovered a rare book" versus "He went to the library, where he "was to discover" a rare book".