what was that

USAGE SUMMARY

"what was that" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It is typically used in spoken English as an interjection or exclamation to express surprise, confusion, or disbelief. It can also be used in written dialogue to convey these emotions. Example: The loud noise made me jump. "What was that?" I asked, my heart racing.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

41 human-written examples

WASHINGTON What was that?

The New York Times

What was that like?

The New York Times - Arts

What was that name?

The New Yorker

But what was that?

The New Yorker

What was that change?

The New York Times

And what was that?

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

19 human-written examples

What is that?" "What's what?" "That.

The New Yorker

BURKE: What is that?

The New Yorker

CLINTON: What's that?

The New Yorker

"What's that mean?

The New York Times

What is that like?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "what was that" when you genuinely didn't hear or understand something, or when you're expressing disbelief or surprise. It's versatile but context-dependent.

Common error

Avoid using "what was that" in highly formal writing. Opt for more sophisticated phrasing like "could you please clarify" or "would you mind repeating that" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what was that" functions primarily as an interrogative expression. It is used to request clarification or repetition, often in response to something unexpected or unclear. Ludwig AI also confirms this as a common expression in spoken English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

20%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "what was that" is a common and grammatically correct interrogative phrase used to seek clarification or repetition. Ludwig AI notes its typical use in spoken English to express surprise, confusion, or disbelief. While versatile, it's best suited for neutral to informal contexts, with formal situations calling for more refined alternatives such as "could you please clarify". Its frequent appearance in News & Media confirms its widespread use. Therefore, while effective, writers should be mindful of the register and consider more formal options when appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what did you say

A more direct way of asking for repetition.

what's that you said

Another direct way of asking for repetition, adding slight emphasis.

could you repeat that

A polite request for someone to say something again.

can you say that again

A slightly more polite version of "say that again".

pardon me

This is a polite way of asking someone to repeat what they said. It's more formal.

excuse me

Similar to "pardon me", it's a courteous way to request repetition or clarification.

say that again

A more casual way of asking someone to repeat something.

come again

An informal way to ask someone to repeat themselves.

i didn't catch that

This indicates that the speaker didn't hear or understand something.

what do you mean

This requests clarification, not necessarily repetition. Asking what was intended.

FAQs

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

You can use "what was that" when you didn't hear or understand something, expressing surprise, or seeking clarification. For example, "Did you hear that noise? What was that?"

What is a more formal alternative to "what was that"?

In more formal settings, you can use phrases like "Could you please repeat that?" or "Could you clarify what you meant?" instead of "what was that".

Is it appropriate to use "what was that" in academic writing?

Generally, it's better to avoid "what was that" in academic writing. More formal alternatives are preferred. However, it may be acceptable in direct quotes from speech.

What's the difference between "what was that" and "what did you say"?

"What was that" typically refers to an external sound or event, while "what did you say" directly asks someone to repeat their words. Although they can sometimes overlap, the primary focus differs.