I was believing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I was believing" is correct and can be used in written English.
For example, "I was believing it was too late to make a difference, but I was wrong."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

"I was believing that I was confident I could do this, but only in the case I would play my best tennis.

The New York Times - Sports

"I was believing we could still do it and we did it at the end, but this crowd was unbelievable," said Strycova.

The Guardian - Sport

"My confidence was so fragile that if she'd said feck off, I would have retreated into the shame of 'Jesus, who did I think I was, believing I could write a book'".

The Guardian - Books

And there I was believing that the first responsibility of government was the protection of it people.

BBC

I was believing this is my only life but I wasn't behaving like it.

Vice

"I was hoping for it and I was believing in me that it would come," she said.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

When attribute i is believed to influence attribute j, we denote the influence by (g_{ij}).

Journal of Modern Transportation

I was believed.

Huffington Post

"I'm believing," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

I'm believing they've gone to heaven.

The Washington Post

I'm believing.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I was believing" to describe an ongoing state of conviction in the past, particularly when emphasizing the duration or process of holding that belief. For example, "I was believing that everything would work out, even when faced with challenges."

Common error

While grammatically correct, overuse of "I was believing" can sound less polished in formal writing. Opt for simpler past tense forms like "I believed" for a more concise and impactful statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I was believing" functions as a verb phrase in the past continuous tense, describing an ongoing state of conviction or belief in the past. As Ludwig highlights, this form emphasizes the duration of the belief.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I was believing" is grammatically correct and describes a continuous state of belief in the past. While not as common as the simple past tense "I believed", it serves to emphasize the duration or process of holding that belief. According to Ludwig, this construction appears most frequently in news and media contexts. When writing, consider if the emphasis on the ongoing nature of the belief is important; if so, "I was believing" is appropriate. Otherwise, the simpler "I believed" may be more concise. Though accurate, it's important to note that overuse of the term may come across as less refined in formal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I believed

Simple past tense, indicating a completed belief in the past.

I had believed

Past perfect tense, indicating a belief held before another point in the past.

I used to believe

Indicates a past belief that is no longer held.

I had faith

Emphasizes trust or confidence in something.

I held the conviction

Emphasizes a strong and firm belief.

I assumed

Suggests a belief based on less evidence.

I thought

A general term for having an idea or belief.

I was of the opinion

Indicates a personal judgment or viewpoint.

I was under the impression

Suggests a belief based on incomplete information.

I presupposed

Suggests a belief taken for granted.

FAQs

What does "I was believing" mean?

The phrase "I was believing" indicates a state of ongoing belief in the past. It emphasizes that you were in the process of believing something over a period of time.

Is "I was believing" grammatically correct?

Yes, "I was believing" is grammatically correct. It uses the past continuous tense to describe a belief that was held continuously in the past, as confirmed by Ludwig's analysis.

When should I use "I believed" instead of "I was believing"?

Use "I believed" when you want to state a past belief as a simple fact, without emphasizing its duration. Use "I was believing" to highlight the continuous nature of that belief in the past. Consider these alternatives: "I thought" or "I assumed".

What are some alternatives to "I was believing"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "I believed", "I assumed", or "I had faith". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey. For instance, you might say "I used to believe" to indicate the shift in your point of view.