I was distressing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I was distressing" is not correct in standard English usage.
It may be intended to convey that you were causing distress, but the construction is awkward and unclear. Example: "I was distressing my friends with my constant complaints about work."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9/22881388001?isVid=1 Not too long ago I wrote that it was distressing how the "de-makes" of games are often funner than the games themselves.

TechCrunch

But I didn't think it was distressing.

BMC Nursing

So it was distressing for me.

The Guardian - Sport

Grindal said: "It was distressing.

Vice

"I think it's distressing that the sanctity of these graves is going to be disturbed.

The New York Times

"I think it's distressing the degree to which a new industry has been built around social impact bonds before it's ever been proven viable," said Mark Rosenman, a professor emeritus at Union Institute and University in Cincinnati.

The New York Times

"I think it's distressing that people view MPs in a bad way and in a bad light.

BBC

Follow Ebony on TwItter.

Vice

I don't think she has done so yet, it is distressing.

Huffington Post

Laura also added: "However having said that, if I were too ill and my baby wouldn't take a bottle I might consider it if tube feeding was distressing and I didn't like it".

Independent

I wanna go home!" — which was distressing to all of us, of course, because she was home.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "I was distressing". Instead, use "I was causing distress" or "I felt distressed" depending on whether you were causing the distress or experiencing it.

Common error

The word "distressing" describes something that causes distress. To describe yourself causing distress, use "I was causing distress". "I was distressing" incorrectly implies you are the recipient of the distress.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I was distressing" is an incorrect attempt to use the adjective "distressing" in a past continuous construction. Based on Ludwig AI, it appears that this construction is non-standard, and better alternatives should be used.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "I was distressing" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided. As indicated by Ludwig AI, the phrase is not standard English. The intended meaning is usually either that the speaker was causing distress to others or that the speaker themselves felt distressed. To correct this, use "I was causing distress" or "I felt distressed" instead. Due to its incorrectness, this phrase is unsuitable for formal writing and may cause confusion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I was causing distress

Replaces the adjective "distressing" with the verb phrase "causing distress" for grammatical correctness.

I was upsetting

Uses the verb "upsetting" to convey the act of causing someone emotional discomfort.

I was making people anxious

Emphasizes the feeling of anxiety induced in others.

I was a source of worry

Highlights the role of being a cause of concern for others.

I was provoking anxiety

Uses "provoking anxiety" to specify the induction of anxiety.

I was agitating people

Focuses on stirring up negative feelings or unease in others.

I was a problem

Suggests being a general cause of trouble or difficulty.

My actions caused distress

Shifts the focus to actions as the cause of distress.

I experienced distress

Expresses that the speaker felt distressed, rather than caused it.

I felt distressed

Similar to above, describes the speaker's feeling of distress.

FAQs

What does it mean if someone says "I was distressing"?

The phrase "I was distressing" is grammatically incorrect. It likely means the person intended to say they were causing distress to someone else or that they themselves felt distressed.

How can I use the word "distressing" correctly in a sentence?

Use "distressing" to describe something that causes distress, such as "The news was "distressing"". To describe your own actions causing distress, say "I was causing distress".

What's the difference between "I was distressing" and "I felt distressed"?

"I was distressing" is not grammatically correct. "I felt distressed" means you personally experienced distress, while "I was causing distress" (the corrected version of the original phrase) means you were the cause of distress for someone else.

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

Depending on the intended meaning, you can say "I was causing distress", "I felt distressed", "I was upsetting someone", or "I was making someone anxious".