what was effortless

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "what was effortless" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that was done easily or without difficulty in the past. Example: "Looking back, I realize that what was effortless for me now seems like a distant memory."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Telefon Tel Aviv, Map Of What is Effortless (Hefty): TTA has the instrumentation and arrangement of Tortoise and the glitch sensibilities of the laptop set.

Vice

Now access was effortless.

The New Yorker

Passing is effortless.

The New York Times

The R8 is effortless.

TechCrunch

Ordering on Amazon is effortless.

TechCrunch

But, in any case, it wasn't their opinions, left or right, right or wrong, that impressed American readers so much as what was acclaimed as their effortless erudition.

The New York Times

This zone is ultimately unsatisfying, though, because it does not engage the innate genius of the individual". Your zone of genius is what's most effortless for you.

Forbes

He wore a suit and Stetson hat, and when he played he smiled at the audience like what he was doing was effortless.

The New Yorker

Soon after, she returned to school for the fall semester with a compromised immune system and a daily struggle with what should be effortless tasks.

Huffington Post

Assembling the ingredients was so effortless, the host barely noticed what was going on.

The New York Times - Food

Many employ some form of flotation device — rubber rings, tubes, rafts — placing these items strategically under their arms or necks or backsides, creating buoyancy, and thus rendering what is already almost effortless easier still.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "what was effortless" to highlight a contrast between past ease and present difficulty, emphasizing change over time.

Common error

Avoid using "what was effortless" to describe current situations. The phrase is explicitly past tense and should only refer to things that were easy in the past, not now.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what was effortless" functions as a noun clause, acting as a subject, object, or complement in a sentence. It describes a specific thing or activity from the past that required minimal effort. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "what was effortless" is a grammatically sound noun clause used to refer to past actions or skills achieved with ease. Although not extremely frequent, as noted by Ludwig, it appears across diverse sources. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. When using this phrase, ensure it accurately reflects past circumstances and contrasts with the present, if applicable. Alternatives such as "what came easily" or "what was simple" may offer subtle variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what came easily

Focuses on the ease with which something was accomplished.

what was simple

Highlights the simplicity of a past action or task.

what required no effort

Emphasizes the absence of exertion in a past event.

what was second nature

Indicates that something was instinctive or habitual in the past.

what didn't take work

Highlights the lack of labor needed for a past action.

that which was undemanding

Emphasizes the absence of rigorous requirements in the past.

what flowed naturally

Focuses on the smooth and unforced progression of a past event.

what posed no challenge

Highlights the lack of difficulty or obstacle encountered in the past.

what presented no difficulty

Indicates the absence of trouble or complication in a past action.

what involved no struggle

Emphasizes the lack of hardship or effort in a past undertaking.

FAQs

How can I use "what was effortless" in a sentence?

You can use "what was effortless" to describe a past action or skill that required little to no effort. For example, "Looking back, I realize that "what was effortless" for me in my youth now requires significant concentration and practice".

What are some alternatives to "what was effortless"?

Some alternatives include "what came easily", "what was simple", or "what required no effort". Choose the alternative that best fits the specific context of your sentence.

Is it correct to say "what is effortless" instead of "what was effortless"?

The correctness depends on the context. "What is effortless" refers to something currently easy, while "what was effortless" refers to something that used to be easy in the past. Use the tense that accurately reflects the timing.

What's the difference between "what was effortless" and "what seemed effortless"?

"What was effortless" implies that something truly required little effort. "What seemed effortless" suggests that something appeared easy, even if it might have involved hidden work or skill. The latter focuses on perception rather than reality.