would often be

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "would often be" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a habitual action or state in the past that occurred frequently. Example: "During the summer, the park would often be filled with families enjoying picnics and games."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

This would often be the market.

The Economist

I would often be the only woman in a room.

The New York Times

Angela and I would often be sent off for giggling.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

The misuse of a billion dollars would often be viewed as fraudulent and not just mismanagement.

The New York Times

"There would often be stuff there — children's toys, stuffed animals, flowers".

The New York Times

There would often be significant chordal differences, or complexities I had to accommodate.

The New York Times

But once in the office, family matters would often be hidden.

The New York Times - Magazine

Naima would often be sent to the pharmacy for aspirin, sleeping pills, painkillers.

The New Yorker

Laveau would often be accompanied by her "king" or a second-ranking male officiate.

Encyclopedia Britannica

That demand alone would often be enough to prompt a settlement.

The Economist

And the chest itself would often be "as precious as what's inside".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "would often be", ensure the context clearly indicates a past habitual action or a situation that frequently occurred. Avoid using it for single, isolated events.

Common error

Avoid using "would often be" to describe present or future situations. This phrase specifically refers to past habits or tendencies. For present scenarios, use "is often", "tends to be", or "is typically".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "would often be" functions as a modal verb phrase indicating a habitual or recurring action or state in the past. It is used to describe situations that frequently occurred, as demonstrated by Ludwig, which states the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "would often be" is a grammatically sound and versatile expression used to describe habitual or recurring situations in the past. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is widely accepted and utilized across various contexts, primarily in news, scientific, and encyclopedic writing. While similar to "used to be", it emphasizes frequent occurrence rather than a discontinued state. When using "would often be", ensure that the context aligns with past events or tendencies to avoid temporal inconsistencies. By considering the advice of this guide, you can confidently and accurately incorporate "would often be" into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was frequently

A more direct and slightly more formal way of expressing frequent occurrence.

commonly was

Similar to "was frequently" but places slightly more emphasis on the commonality.

typically was

Highlights the typical or usual nature of the occurrence.

generally was

Indicates that something was true in most cases, but not necessarily all.

used to be frequently

Emphasizes the past habitual nature more strongly with "used to be" and specifies the frequency with "frequently".

tended to be

Suggests a natural inclination or tendency, rather than a strict habitual action.

as a rule was

Emphasizes that something followed a general principle or guideline.

on many occasions was

Stresses the repeated occurrence of something across multiple instances.

was known to be

Implies that something was widely recognized or acknowledged.

it was typical to see

Focuses on the observation or experience of something common.

FAQs

How can I use "would often be" in a sentence?

Use "would often be" to describe habitual actions or recurring states in the past. For example, "Before the internet, libraries "would often be" the primary source of information".

What's a more formal alternative to "would often be"?

For a more formal tone, consider using "was frequently" or "tended to be". These alternatives maintain a similar meaning while sounding more polished in formal writing.

Is "would often be" interchangeable with "used to be"?

While similar, "used to be" generally describes a state that is no longer true, whereas ""would often be"" emphasizes a frequent occurrence or habitual action in the past that may or may not still be true.

What is the difference between ""would often be"" and "is often"?

""would often be"" refers to past habits or frequent occurrences, while "is often" refers to present habits or frequent occurrences. Use "is often" when describing something that happens frequently now.