I find myself missing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I find myself missing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing a feeling of longing or nostalgia for someone or something. Example: "As the days go by, I find myself missing the carefree moments of my childhood."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

I find myself missing both".

The New Yorker

I find myself missing my daughter more than I did a year ago.

The New York Times

If I don't sniff that salty breeze every couple of months I find myself missing it.

The Guardian - Travel

I find myself missing images because I can't get to a certain event quick enough or an incident quick enough.

The New York Times

And yet I find myself missing aspects of the personal-essay Internet that the flashiest examples tended to obscure.

The New Yorker

Stran- gely enough, it is none of the things on the list of my regular moans which I find myself missing.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

I found myself missing some of the tediousness of 1959.

The Guardian - Opinion

The odd thing was that, a week or so later, I found myself missing it.

The Guardian - Music

Yet for all that, I found myself missing the more constricted — but also more focused — piano accompaniments of these songs.

The New York Times - Arts

Possibly; at first I found myself missing the clutch pedal, but after rolling up some miles and experimenting with the six available shift programs, I became a convert.

The New York Times

But recently, I found myself missing makeup that's for more than just camouflaging imperfections and subtly highlighting my best features.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I find myself missing" to express a gentle realization of absence or longing, often when reflecting on past experiences or changes in circumstances.

Common error

Avoid using "I find myself missing" in highly formal or professional writing where a more direct statement might be more appropriate. Consider alternatives like "I regret the absence of" or "I miss" for clarity and conciseness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I find myself missing" functions as a statement of realization and sentiment. It expresses the speaker's acknowledgment of feeling a sense of loss or longing for someone or something. The usage examples provided by Ludwig illustrate its application in expressing nostalgia or the recognition of absence.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "I find myself missing" is a grammatically correct phrase used to express a gentle realization of missing someone or something. As highlighted by Ludwig, it often appears in news and media contexts, reflecting personal sentiments and nostalgic reflections. While suitable for expressing personal feelings, it may be less appropriate for highly formal or professional writing, where directness is preferred. The phrase is generally considered to be of neutral to informal register, fitting well within personal essays and reflective articles. Despite its correctness, remember to consider alternative phrasing to better suit particular contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I miss

A more direct and simple expression of missing someone or something.

I long for

Emphasizes a strong desire or yearning.

I yearn for

Similar to 'I long for', but with a slightly more poetic or intense connotation.

I have a longing for

Directly states the presence of a longing.

I am nostalgic for

Highlights a sentimental longing for the past.

I pine for

Implies a deep and often sorrowful longing.

I crave

Implies a strong desire or need.

I regret the absence of

Focuses on the feeling of regret due to something being gone.

I feel the lack of

Highlights the feeling of something essential being absent.

I am reminded of what's lost

Focuses on the memory of what is no longer present.

FAQs

What does "I find myself missing" mean?

The phrase "I find myself missing" expresses a realization or acknowledgment of missing someone or something. It suggests a gentle discovery of a feeling of longing or absence.

What can I say instead of "I find myself missing"?

You can use alternatives like "I miss", "I long for", or "I yearn for" depending on the context and the intensity of the feeling you want to convey.

Is "I find myself missing" grammatically correct?

Yes, "I find myself missing" is grammatically correct. It follows standard English sentence structure, with "find" used as a verb of perception or realization.

When is it appropriate to use "I find myself missing"?

It's appropriate to use "I find myself missing" when you want to express a gentle realization of missing someone or something, often in reflective or personal contexts. It's less suitable for formal or business writing where directness is preferred.