when it went by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "when it went by" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a specific moment in the past when something occurred or passed. Example: "I remember the day when it went by so quickly, I hardly had time to enjoy it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

*Ann Miura-Ko, a co-founder of Floodgate, was one of the first investors in Lyft when it went by its original name, Zimride.

The New York Times

Got a pitch on the middle of the plate in, I thought Youkilis made a great play on it when I first saw it, then I lost it when it went by him and I thought, Man, you've got to be kidding me.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Upstaged by the duck at Eleven Madison Park, here the chicken is the uncontested prima donna, and heads swivel when it goes by.

The New York Times - Food

For six years, Grimes, 31, has run The Common Place Church, which operates like any other coffee shop on the weekdays, when it goes by Avenue 209 Coffee House, but on the weekends becomes a popular church.

Huffington Post

Facebook went further in restricting shareholder control when it went public by adopting a dual-class structure that allowed its co-founder Mark Zuckerberg to keep control even if he owned less than 10 percent of the company.

The New York Times

Some have argued that other industries would benefit from a lower pound, but we experimented with a lower-valued sterling after the financial crisis, when it went down by more than 25%.

The Guardian

When it went international (by way of Canada in 1967, and the UK in 1974) it made a counterintuitive decision: in each new market, it let the locals adapt its concept, tweaking it and adding new menu items to suit its particular clients.

Independent

Though I expected the loud bang, I screamed a bit when it went off, startled by the sheer power of the weapon in my hands.

Vice

Excoriated by critics when it went up, then championed by preservationists when it was threatened with destruction, the building provides an object lesson in the inexorable march of architectural fashion and may point to an even more basic truth about people and buildings: we get used to things we don't like and then come to like things we've got used to.

The New Yorker

"When it went live, we were excited by how quickly word got around and how many events were submitted by the community," says Holcomb.

Vice

When it went public in 2004, spun off by parent General Electric, Genworth was the year's biggest initial public offering.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "when it went by" to describe a specific past moment when something moved past a reference point. For clarity, ensure the subject of "it" is clear within the context.

Common error

Avoid using "when it went by" if the context requires a different temporal relationship, such as cause and effect. For instance, don't use it if you mean "because of what happened afterward".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "when it went by" functions as an adverbial clause of time, modifying a main clause by specifying when an event occurred. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

12%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "when it went by" is a grammatically correct adverbial clause of time used to specify a past moment. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. While not exceedingly common, it appears in neutral contexts such as news reports, as well as in Wiki entries and formal business communications. It serves to provide a temporal reference point, indicating when something moved past a certain point. Related phrases include "when it passed" and "as it went past", offering slight variations in emphasis. A key writing tip is to ensure the subject of "it" is clear. Avoid using it if the context requires a different temporal relationship.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

when it passed

Replaces "went" with "passed", focusing on the action of something moving past a point.

as it went past

Uses "as" to indicate simultaneity, emphasizing the action's progression.

while it was going by

Adds a continuous aspect, highlighting the duration of the passing.

when it was happening

Shifts the focus to the ongoing nature of an event during the specified time.

at the moment it went by

Specifies a precise instant when the action occurred.

when it had gone by

Indicates the action was completed at a certain point in the past.

the time it went by

Refers to a specific instance in time when something passed.

upon its passing

Formal alternative, emphasizing the event of something passing.

after it went by

Focuses on the period following the passing event.

as it rolled by

Emphasizes a smooth, continuous movement.

FAQs

How can I use "when it went by" in a sentence?

Use "when it went by" to indicate a specific moment in the past during which something passed a certain point. For example, "I noticed the damage "when it went by" the window".

What are some alternatives to "when it went by"?

Alternatives include "when it passed", "as it went past", or "while it was going by", depending on the desired emphasis and nuance.

Is there a difference between "when it went by" and "after it went by"?

"When it went by" refers to the moment something passed, while "after it went by" focuses on the period following that event. The choice depends on whether you want to highlight the passing itself or what happened subsequently.

Which is correct, "when it went by" or "when it had gone by"?

Both are correct, but they convey different meanings. "When it went by" describes the moment of passing, whereas "when it had gone by" refers to a point in time after the passing was completed. The correct choice depends on the context.