if_it_was What? "If It Were" and "If It Was" "If it were" is used for conditions contrary to fact, whereas "if it was" is used for simple conditions. To test the clause you can add an imaginary statement of fact. If this statement begins with "but" the condition is contrary to fact. good: If the polygon were simple (but it is not) we could apply the standard techniques, but now we have to come up with something clever. 101018 what's it to you? who go blather from