It Always Is vs. It Is Always – Which is Correct?
The correct choice depends on sentence structure: “it always is” places emphasis on the verb or confirms a previous description, while “it is always” places the adverb before the complement or verb phrase. Both are grammatical American English. Usually, use “it is always” in neutral statements and “it always is” for emphasis.
It Always Is or It Is Always – Which Is Correct?
“It always is” and “it is always” are both correct. The difference is mainly one of word order and emphasis. In it is always, the adverb always normally appears between the linking verb is and the adjective, noun phrase, or other complement that follows it.
In it always is, always comes before is. This structure commonly appears when the speaker is emphasizing the verb, responding to an earlier statement, or ending with is to avoid repeating a phrase that is already understood.
- Neutral description: It is always difficult at first.
- Emphatic agreement: “Is the process unpredictable?” “It always is.”
- Contrast or correction: It may seem simple, but it always is more complicated than expected.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use “it is always” when always introduces the description that follows: It is always busy. Use “it always is” when the sentence emphasizes or repeats the idea that something is a certain way: It always is busy or “Is it busy?” “It always is.”
A useful swap test is to ask whether a complement comes after is. If the sentence continues naturally with an adjective or noun, it is always is usually the smoother choice. If the sentence ends with is because the description is understood, choose it always is.
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| It always is | Clause with emphatic adverb placement | It is consistently or invariably so; often confirms an understood description | “Does the train run late?” “It always is.” |
| It is always | Clause with standard adverb placement | It consistently has a stated quality or performs a repeated action | It is always crowded on Fridays. |
How to Use It Always Is
It always is is grammatical but usually more emphatic, contrastive, or conversational than it is always. The phrase is especially common as a short answer when the adjective or complement has already been mentioned.
For example, if someone asks, “Is the weather unpredictable in the mountains?” the reply “It always is” is natural because unpredictable is understood from the question. The construction avoids repeating the full sentence, It is always unpredictable.
Example 1: “Does the old printer make that noise?” “It always does.”
Example 2: “Is the first week stressful?” “It always is.”
Example 3: The explanation sounds straightforward, but it always is more complicated in practice.
Etymology of the phrase It Always Is
The phrase combines the pronoun it, the adverb always, and the present-tense form of the verb be, is. Always developed from Middle English expressions meaning “at all times,” while is comes from the ancient Germanic forms of the verb to be. The modern word order reflects English flexibility in placing adverbs for emphasis.
How to Use It Is Always
It is always is the standard, neutral order when always modifies an adjective, noun phrase, or participle that follows. It is common in formal writing, everyday speech, explanations, instructions, and general statements.
When is functions as a linking verb, the usual pattern is subject + is + always + complement. Examples include It is always useful, It is always the same, and It is always changing.
Example 1: It is always helpful to check the instructions before beginning.
Example 2: It is always colder near the water after sunset.
Example 3: It is always a good idea to save a backup copy.
Etymology of the phrase It Is Always
It is always has the same basic historical components as it always is. The pronoun it comes from Old English, is is an ancient form of to be, and always developed from Middle English wording associated with “all” times. The difference between the two expressions is modern word order, not origin.
Related Concepts
Understanding adverb placement and linking verbs makes the difference between these two expressions much easier to recognize.
- Adverb placement: Adverbs such as always, often, and usually commonly appear after a form of be but before an adjective, noun phrase, or participle: It is always ready.
- Linking verbs: The verb is links the subject it to a description or identity, such as busy, important, or a problem.
- Ellipsis: Ellipsis omits words that readers or listeners can understand from context. In It always is, the complement may be omitted because it was already stated.
- Emphasis and inversion of focus: Moving an adverb before is can make the statement sound more emphatic, corrective, or responsive rather than purely descriptive.
Examples from Media and Literature
The following examples illustrate patterns commonly found in dialogue, narration, journalism, and commentary. They are original examples modeled on those contexts rather than quotations from copyrighted works.
- Novel-style narration: The village is quiet in the morning, but it is always different after nightfall.
- Film-style dialogue: “Does the detective notice everything?” “It always is,” the partner replied, using the earlier description as an understood complement.
- News commentary: It is always difficult to predict how audiences will respond to a major policy change.
- Documentary narration: The landscape is always shifting as wind and water reshape the coast.
- Personal essay: I expect the journey to be tiring, and it always is, but the destination makes the effort worthwhile.
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct phrase, it always is or it is always, to complete each sentence.
- ______ useful to read the contract carefully.
- “Is the morning commute frustrating?” “______.”
- ______ more expensive to repair equipment than to maintain it.
- The task looks easy, but ______ harder than people expect.
- ______ a pleasure to work with an organized team.
Answer Key
- It is always — the phrase introduces the adjective useful.
- It always is — the adjective frustrating is understood from the question.
- It is always — the phrase introduces the comparative complement more expensive.
- it always is — the phrase emphasizes and repeats the understood description harder than people expect.
- It is always — the phrase introduces the noun phrase a pleasure.
It Always Is Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| It invariably is | It is so without exception; more formal and emphatic. |
| It consistently is | It repeatedly has the stated quality or condition. |
| It certainly is | It emphatically confirms that the description is true. |
It Is Always Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| It is invariably | It happens or remains true every time; formal in tone. |
| It is consistently | It regularly has the same quality or result. |
| It is continually | It occurs repeatedly or without much interruption, depending on context. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is “it always is” grammatically correct?
Yes. “It always is” is grammatically correct, especially when it emphasizes the verb or serves as a short answer with an understood adjective or complement.
Question 2: Is “it is always” more common?
Yes. “It is always” is generally more common in neutral statements because the adverb naturally appears before the description that follows, as in It is always helpful.
Question 3: Should I use “it always is” or “it is always” in formal writing?
Use it is always for most straightforward formal statements. Use it always is when the context requires emphasis, contrast, or an intentional short answer. Neither phrase is incorrect.
Conclusion
It always is and it is always are both correct expressions. Choose it is always for the usual neutral word order before a stated complement, and choose it always is when emphasizing the verb or avoiding repetition. Pro Tip: In professional writing, prefer the clearer neutral form unless emphasis or contrast makes the alternative more effective.
