who was

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "who was" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to refer to something that has already happened in the past, usually describing a person or thing. For example: "He was the President who was known for his generosity."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Who was?

The Economist

Who was inside, and who was outside?

The New York Times

Who was good?" and "Who was mean?

The New York Times - Magazine

Who was he? Who was he?

The New York Times

Who was the sailor?

The New York Times

So who was funnier?

The New York Times

Who was the speaker?

The Economist

Who was stupid?

The New Yorker

Who was Souchock?

The New York Times - Magazine

Who was most accurate?

The New York Times

WHO was that monarch?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "who was" to inquire about a person's identity, role, or characteristics in the past. Ensure the context clearly indicates you're seeking information about a past state or action.

Common error

Avoid using "who was" when referring to a person's current identity or role. Use "who is" instead to ask about their present state.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "who was" functions as an interrogative phrase, specifically used to ask about the identity, role, or characteristics of a person in the past. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating this function in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Science

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "who was" serves as a very common and grammatically correct interrogative phrase used to inquire about a person's identity or role in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is well-established in English. It is predominantly used in news and media contexts, maintaining a neutral register suitable for various forms of communication. When seeking to identify an individual's past role or characteristic, "who was" is a direct and effective choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

who were

Plural form, used when referring to multiple people.

who had been

Refers to a person's identity or role at a point further in the past.

what was

Inquires about the nature or identity of something rather than someone.

who used to be

Focuses on a past identity or state that is no longer current.

which was

Asks about the specific item or person from a set of possibilities.

identify who was

Requests the identification of someone in a past event or situation.

who is

Inquires about someone's current identity or role.

who could have been

Explores potential past identities or roles that did not materialize.

can you name who was

Directly asks for the name of someone who held a particular role or identity in the past.

tell me who was

Requests information about a person's past identity or role.

FAQs

How to use "who was" in a sentence?

Use "who was" to ask about someone's identity or role in the past. For example, "Who was the first president of the United States?"

What can I say instead of "who was"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "who were" (for plural subjects), or "what was" (when referring to an object or event).

Which is correct, "who was" or "who is"?

The correct choice depends on the time frame you're referencing. Use "who was" for the past and "who is" for the present. For example, "Who was the director of that film?" (past) vs. "Who is the current CEO?" (present).

What's the difference between "who was" and "who had been"?

"Who was" refers to a general past identity or role, while "who had been" refers to a past identity or role at a point further in the past, often before another event. For example, "Who was the captain of the team last year?" vs. "Who had been the captain before she took over?"