was was

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was was" is not correct and usable in written English.
It may occur in specific contexts, such as when quoting or referencing a statement that includes the word "was" twice, but it is generally not used in standard sentences. Example: "He said that the event was was a success, but I have my doubts."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

Whoever that was was smart.

The New York Times

What it was was fear".

The New York Times

What it was was solid.

The New Yorker

He was was 94.

The New York Times - Arts

He was was my in.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

What it was was dull.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

"He was being fired".

The New York Times

I was being naïve.

Independent

Minimize is, are, was, and were.

University of Chicago

"It's being interdependent".

The New York Times

It's been clinical.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "was was" in your writing. Instead, use the single "was" or rephrase the sentence for clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

Be mindful of repetitive phrasing. If you find yourself using "was was", review the sentence and simplify it to avoid the duplication. Often, a single "was" or a rephrased construction will suffice.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was was" lacks a defined grammatical function in standard English. Ludwig AI indicates that it is not correct and usable. It is typically considered an error unless used in direct quotation or explicit discussion of the word itself.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was was" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment, indicating that it is not typically usable in writing. While it may appear in direct quotations or when explicitly discussing the word "was", it should be avoided in most contexts. Instead, use the single "was" or rephrase your sentence for clarity. Related alternatives include "had been", or rephrasing the sentence to avoid repetition. Pay close attention to sentence structure to prevent unintentional repetition and ensure grammatical correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was

This is the corrected version, removing the unnecessary repetition.

had been

This alternative uses the past perfect tense to clarify a sequence of events.

it was

This clarifies the subject when the phrase is used to describe something.

he was

This specifies the subject as a male individual.

she was

This specifies the subject as a female individual.

there was

This phrase indicates the existence or presence of something.

it used to be

This describes a past state that is no longer true.

it had been

This emphasizes that something happened before a specific point in the past.

he/she used to be

This indicates a past state or habit of a person.

all that existed

This alternative emphasizes the totality of what was present.

FAQs

Is "was was" grammatically correct?

No, "was was" is generally grammatically incorrect and rarely used in standard English. In most cases, the repetition is unnecessary and should be avoided.

When might I encounter the phrase "was was"?

You might encounter "was was" when someone is directly quoting speech that contains the repeated word, or when explicitly discussing the word "was" itself. However, this is not typical in standard writing or speech.

What can I use instead of "was was" in a sentence?

In most cases, you can simply use "was". Depending on the context, you might also consider using phrases like "had been" or rephrasing the sentence entirely for clarity.

How can I avoid making mistakes with "was" in my writing?

Pay attention to sentence structure and verb tense agreement. Review your sentences to ensure that you are not unintentionally repeating words or using incorrect verb forms. Consider using Ludwig to check your grammar and find alternative phrasing.