was will be

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was will be" is not correct in written English.
It appears to be a combination of two different tenses that do not logically connect. Example: "The past was will be a time of great change."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

"Our knowledge of what was, will be very valuable to this process".

The New York Times

Charlie Hebdo was — will be again, let us hope — a satirical journal of a kind these days found in France almost alone.

The New Yorker

"The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day," the guns-and-rosaries sequel to the shoot-'em-up that almost never was, will be released on Oct. 30.

The New York Times

I cannot afford to get private counselling and am just hoping that I was will be offered someone to talk to at my university when I start soon.

The Guardian

There is probably some valuable research that goes on at water parks, and perhaps audiences who come away as stirred and astonished as I was will be inspired to join a whale group or take up an environmental cause.

The New Yorker

Whether the Ravens were as shrewd in their moves as Walsh often was will be a constant question as they look to be the first repeat champions in the N.F.L. since the New England Patriots in the 2004 season.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

"Whatever will be, will be.

The New York Times

"Whatever is meant to be will be".

The New York Times

But what will be will be".

Independent

"What will be will be.

The New York Times

What must be will be".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing future events in relation to a past state, use "was going to be" or "will have been" for grammatical correctness and clarity.

Common error

Avoid combining past and future tenses illogically. The construction "was will be" creates a nonsensical timeline. Always double-check tense consistency in your sentences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was will be" attempts to link a past state with a future action, but it does not form a coherent grammatical structure. As Ludwig indicates, it is an incorrect combination of tenses. The examples provided by Ludwig suggest that this combination often arises from misusing tenses or attempting to express complex relationships between past and future events.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Science

30%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was will be" is grammatically incorrect, combining past and future tenses illogically. Ludwig AI identifies it as a phrase that does not follow standard English grammar rules. While it appears in various contexts, including News & Media and Science, it's best to avoid this phrase in formal writing. Instead, consider using alternatives like "was going to be" or "will have been" to ensure clarity and correctness. Remember to always check your tense consistency to avoid similar errors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was going to be

Replaces the future tense with a past intention, clarifying that something was intended to happen.

will have been

Uses the future perfect tense to indicate that something will be completed by a certain time.

is going to be

Shifts the timeframe to the present, indicating a current plan for the future.

is about to be

Emphasizes the immediacy of a future event.

soon will be

Highlights the near future.

will soon be

Alternative way of saying a future event will happen soon.

is destined to be

Highlights the inevitability of a future event.

will eventually be

Emphasizes that something will occur at some point in the future.

is intended to be

Highlights a plan that involves a future event.

is scheduled to be

Emphasizes that something is set up to happen in the future.

FAQs

What does "was will be" mean?

The phrase "was will be" is grammatically incorrect and doesn't have a coherent meaning in standard English. It seems to combine past and future tenses illogically.

How can I correct a sentence that uses "was will be"?

Replace it with phrases like "was going to be" to indicate a past intention, or "will have been" to describe an action completed in the future relative to a specific point.

Is "was will be" ever acceptable in formal writing?

No, "was will be" is not acceptable in formal writing. It is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in any professional or academic context.

What are some alternatives to "was will be" that still convey a sense of inevitability?

While "was will be" is incorrect, you can use phrases like "is destined to be" or rephrase the sentence to use "what will be will be" which conveys fate or determinism.