I was decided

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'I was decided' is not a grammatically correct sentence.
It should be written as 'I had decided', 'I was deciding', or 'I decided'. For example: After thinking it over, I had decided to move to the city.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

However, under the governing analysis set forth in Western States and Pearson I, even if Plaintiffs' Antioxidant Vitamin Claim is in some respects "potentially" misleading, the resulting injury that could flow to consumers cannot compare, as a matter of law, with the First Amendment injury Plaintiffs have continually borne in the more than three years since Pearson I was decided.

Harvard University

The day before my panel presentation, I was decided to explore the common conference area which also served as a makeshift cafeteria.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"So I was deciding which coast to move to".

The New York Times

I was deciding between that and physical therapy.

The New York Times

Life, I was deciding, was a series of stumblings into the Kantian sublime.

The New Yorker

"I was deciding between money and men, between niggardliness and romance".

The New Yorker

"I was deciding whether to go there or Reddit.

Vice

"The Fate of Social Democracy Is Being Decided in Germany" (with Erik Jones), Foreign Policy, Online, December 12 , 2017

Johns Hopkins University

Out in the minivan I said, Well I am decided, and Carolyn said, Well I am too.

The New Yorker

Currently I'm decided that I am probably going to major in public policy and psychology.

Duke University

"I am deciding about everything".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I decided", "I had decided", or "I was deciding" for correct grammar and clarity.

Common error

Avoid using the passive voice construction with "decide" when the intention is to express your own decision. The phrase "I was decided" incorrectly suggests someone else made the decision for you.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I was decided" is grammatically incorrect and doesn't serve a clear grammatical function in standard English. Ludwig AI confirms this with its analysis, suggesting alternatives like "I decided" or "I had decided".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I was decided" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI points out, more appropriate alternatives include "I decided", "I had decided", or "I was deciding", depending on the intended context. The phrase's rare occurrence and lack of clear grammatical function make it unsuitable for formal or informal use. When aiming to express a personal decision, active voice constructions are preferred for clarity and correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I had decided

Uses the past perfect tense to indicate the decision was made before a certain point in the past.

I decided

Simple past tense indicating a completed action of deciding.

I came to the decision

Emphasizes the process of reaching a decision.

I resolved

Indicates a firm decision or determination.

I determined

Implies a careful and deliberate decision.

I made up my mind

Informal way of saying a decision has been reached.

I opted

Suggests choosing one option over others.

I concluded

Indicates reaching a decision after considering information.

I settled on

Implies choosing something after considering alternatives.

I chose

A direct and simple way of stating a choice was made.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "I was decided"?

The correct ways to express this thought are "I decided", "I had decided", or "I was deciding", depending on the intended meaning. "I decided" indicates a simple past action, "I had decided" indicates a past action completed before another past action, and "I was deciding" indicates an ongoing process of deciding.

Is "I was decided" grammatically correct?

No, "I was decided" is not grammatically correct in standard English. The verb "decide" requires an active voice when expressing a personal decision.

What can I say instead of "I was decided"?

You can use alternatives like "I decided", "I had decided", or "I was deciding" depending on the context you want to convey.

How does the meaning change with "I decided", "I had decided", and "I was deciding"?

"I decided" indicates a simple past decision. "I had decided" indicates a decision made before another event in the past. "I was deciding" indicates the process of making a decision over a period of time.