I was astounding

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I was astounding" is not correct in standard English.
The correct form would be "I was astounded" or "I was amazing," depending on the intended meaning. Example: "After witnessing the performance, I was astounded by the talent displayed on stage."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Soon I was astounding my friends with pronouncements like " 'Highway 61 Revisited' is a pretty good album," or "The White Album is a masterpiece".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"I was astounded," he says.

The New Yorker

"I was astounded," she told me.

The New York Times

I was astounded by Blair's arrogance.

The Guardian - Opinion

'I was astounded,' the senator said.

The New York Times

I was astounded by this remark.

The New York Times

"I was astounded… it was so explicit really.

Independent

"I was astounded they could run like that," Spooner said.

The New York Times - Sports

I was astounded; but what was more astounding was the body language of the horse.

The New Yorker

I was astounded when we had a hit record".

The Guardian - Music

"I was astounded by these games," she says.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the intensity of your surprise when choosing a substitute. "Shocked" implies a stronger reaction than "surprised" or "impressed".

Common error

Avoid using "astounding" to describe how you felt. "Astounding" is an adjective used to describe something that causes great surprise or amazement. Instead, use "astounded", "amazed", or another appropriate adjective to describe your personal feeling.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I was astounding" functions as a verb phrase where "I" is the subject and "was astounding" is the verb phrase. However, the phrase is grammatically incorrect as confirmed by Ludwig AI, since "astounding" is an adjective, not a state that can be experienced by the subject.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I was astounding" is grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI confirms, "astounding" is an adjective and should not be used to describe one's own state of being. Instead, use phrases like "I was astounded", "I was amazed", or "I was surprised" to express your feelings of wonder or surprise. While example sentences with this phrase exist, it's crucial to understand and correct the grammatical error to ensure clear and accurate communication. Remember to use "astounding" to describe something that causes amazement, not to describe the person experiencing it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I was astonished

Replaces "astounding" with a more standard and grammatically correct synonym that indicates surprise.

I was amazed

Uses a common and widely accepted synonym for expressing wonder or surprise.

I was surprised

Indicates a feeling of unexpectedness or mild shock.

I found it astounding

Rephrases the sentence structure while retaining the core meaning and correcting the grammar.

I was impressed

Conveys a sense of admiration or positive evaluation.

I was shocked

Suggests a stronger reaction of surprise, possibly due to something negative or unexpected.

I was flabbergasted

Implies a state of being utterly astonished or bewildered.

I was stunned

Indicates a state of being overwhelmed or unable to react due to surprise.

I was taken aback

Suggests a feeling of surprise and slight shock or offense.

I was awestruck

Conveys a feeling of reverence and amazement.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use the word "astounding"?

"Astounding" is an adjective used to describe something that causes great surprise or amazement. For example, "The magician's performance was astounding."

Is it correct to say "I was astounding"?

No, "I was astounding" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrasing to express that you were greatly surprised or amazed is "I was "I was astounded"" or "I was "I was amazed"".

What can I say instead of "I was astounding" to express surprise?

You can use alternatives such as "I was "I was astonished"", "I was "I was surprised"", or "I was "I was impressed"", depending on the context and the intensity of the feeling you want to convey.

What is the difference between "astounding" and "astounded"?

"Astounding" is an adjective that describes something that is surprising or amazing. "Astounded" is a verb in the past tense or a past participle, indicating a state of surprise or amazement. For example, "The news was astounding" (adjective), and "I was astounded by the news" (verb).