It Was That

[fillip]

What extra meaning does "it was that" add to the sentence:


(--- nytimes.com/1999/12/24/opinion/then-now-reflections-on-the-millenium-the-expanding-reach-of-civil-rights.html --)

"Thus it was that in the 1930's the legal arm of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People began plotting a litigation strategy to force the courts to confront head-on the evils of official racism. "

How would the meaning be changed if "it was that" is deleted?

[JMurray]

not a teacher

"Thus it was that in the 1930's the legal arm of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People began plotting a litigation strategy to force the courts to confront head-on the evils of official racism."

I'll try to explain this, although a teacher may have to tidy up my response.

There are two separate terms here: "Thus it was…" and "that …".

Here, "that" is a conjunction.

"Thus it was…" implies that the information in the previous statement had a causal effect on what is about to be stated. In your example, the previous statement says that civil rights laws do not enforce themselves, they must be made to work by people in the everyday world taking action. The writer goes on to say that that's why the NAACP began their campaign.
To paraphrase: People must ensure the enforcement of civil rights in the everyday world. It was because of this that in the 1930s the NAACP began plotting a litigation strategy… etc.

[fillip]

Could it be that "thus it was that" = "it was thus that"?

[JMurray]

The meanings are not quite the same.
thus it was that = because of the aforementioned; due to (as a result of) the previously described situation.
it was thus that = in the manner of the aforementioned; in the way (or from the standpoint) previously described.

[bhaisahab]

Could "thus it was that" = "so it was that"?

Please stop deleting and reposting the same post.

[fillip]

Is it possible that "thus it was that" = "so it was that"?

[Rover_KE]

Clone of banned user. Thread closed.