It Was Written vs. It Is Written – Which is Correct?
“It was written” and “it is written” are both correct, but they use different tenses. Choose “it was written” for a completed writing event in the past. Choose “it is written” for a present fact, an ongoing condition, or a statement currently recorded in a text. Context determines the choice.
Because spelling matters as much as tense, compare Written vs. Writen before choosing either phrase.
It Was Written or It Is Written – Which Is Correct?
“It was written” and “it is written” are both grammatically correct. The difference is the verb tense in the passive voice. “It was written” uses the past tense and describes something completed in the past. “It is written” uses the present tense and describes something that is currently recorded, generally true, or relevant now.
Use “it was written” when you are focusing on when the writing happened. Use “it is written” when you are focusing on the words as they currently appear in a document, rule, book, contract, or other text.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use the time-word test. If the sentence includes or implies a past time such as yesterday, in 1998, or last year, choose “it was written.” If the sentence means “the text currently says this,” choose “it is written.”
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| It was written | Past passive verb phrase | Someone wrote it at a completed time in the past | It was written by a local historian in 1950. |
| It is written | Present passive verb phrase | It currently appears in writing or is stated in a text | It is written in the agreement that payment is due today. |
How to Use It Was Written
“It was written” is the past passive form of the verb write. It indicates that an unidentified or previously mentioned person wrote something in the past. The writing event is presented as completed. This construction is common in historical, academic, journalistic, and formal writing, although it also appears in everyday conversation.
Use this phrase when the date, period, or sequence of events matters, or when you want to emphasize the completed act of writing rather than the current contents of the text.
Example 1: The letter was written during the final year of the author’s life.
Example 2: It was written by hand and preserved in the family archive.
Example 3: The first draft was written before the project received funding.
Etymology of the Phrase It Was Written
The phrase combines was, the past tense of the verb be, with written, the past participle of write. The verb write comes from Old English writan, meaning to cut, scratch, or inscribe. The passive structure developed from the long-standing use of forms of be with a past participle to show that an action was performed on a subject.
How to Use It Is Written
“It is written” is the present passive form of write. It usually means that words currently appear in a document or that a source states a particular idea. It can also describe a repeated or general textual fact, even if the document was physically written in the past.
This phrase is especially common in formal instructions, legal documents, religious language, literary analysis, quotations, and discussions of books or records. It may sound more formal than the document says or the author states.
Example 1: It is written in the policy that employees must submit the form by Friday.
Example 2: The inscription is written in Latin.
Example 3: It is written in the final chapter that the two characters reconcile.
Etymology of the Phrase It Is Written
The phrase combines is, the present tense of the verb be, with the past participle written. Like it was written, it uses the passive voice and ultimately derives from Old English writan. The present form emphasizes the statement’s current existence or continuing relevance rather than the historical moment when someone wrote it.
Related Concepts
Understanding passive voice and verb tense makes the difference between these two phrases easy to identify.
- Passive voice: In a passive construction, the subject receives the action. In “it was written,” it receives the action of writing, while the writer may be unnamed or introduced with by.
- Past tense: The past tense presents an action or event as occurring before the present. The word was places the writing event in the past.
- Present tense: The present tense presents a current condition or statement. The word is suggests that the information remains written or relevant now.
- Past participle: Written is the irregular past participle of write. It is used with forms of be to create passive constructions.
Examples from Media and Literature
Both phrases occur naturally when writers distinguish between the historical act of composing a text and the words that remain available to readers.
- Historical writing: A biography might say, “The speech was written during a period of political unrest,” focusing on when the speech was composed.
- Literary analysis: A critic might write, “It is written in a restrained style,” describing the style readers can observe in the work now.
- Religious literature: Traditional translations and interpretations often use “it is written” when referring to a statement found in a sacred text.
- Film and television: A review could say, “The screenplay was written by two collaborators,” identifying the completed creative process.
- News reporting: A report might state, “It is written in the contract that either party may cancel,” highlighting the current wording of the agreement.
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct phrase, “it was written” or “it is written,” to complete each sentence.
- The novel ________ more than a century ago.
- According to the instructions, ________ that all visitors must sign in.
- The note ________ by the director before the meeting began.
- In the final paragraph, ________ that the committee will meet again.
- The poem ________ during the author’s travels through Europe.
Answer Key
- It was written — The phrase refers to a completed event in the past.
- It is written — The instructions currently contain this information.
- It was written — The note was completed before another past event.
- It is written — The paragraph currently states the information.
- It was written — The sentence identifies the past period when the poem was composed.
It Was Written Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| It was composed | It was created or arranged in written form in the past. |
| It was authored | Someone created it as its author in the past. |
| It was recorded | It was put into a permanent written or documented form. |
| It was drafted | An initial or preliminary version was prepared in the past. |
It Is Written Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| It says | The text currently communicates or states the information. |
| It states | The document formally expresses a fact, rule, or position. |
| It specifies | The text gives precise details or requirements. |
| It records | The document preserves information in written form. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is “it was written” grammatically correct?
Yes. “It was written” is the past passive form of write. Use it for a completed writing event that occurred in the past.
Question 2: Is “it is written” grammatically correct?
Yes. “It is written” is the present passive form. Use it when referring to wording that currently appears in a document or to a statement that remains relevant.
Question 3: Can “it was written” refer to a text that still exists today?
Yes. The phrase describes when the writing occurred, not whether the text still exists. For example, “It was written in 1850” is correct even if the document is available today.
Conclusion
“It was written” and “it is written” are both correct expressions. Choose “it was written” for a completed past writing event, and choose “it is written” when emphasizing what a text currently says or contains. Pro Tip: In professional writing, matching the verb tense to the intended time reference prevents ambiguity and strengthens your credibility.
