I was doing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I was doing" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It is part of the simple past tense and can be used to describe an ongoing action or state in the past. Example: I was doing my homework when my phone rang.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And whatever I was doing.

The New York Times - Arts

All this I was doing.

The New Yorker

Nothing, I was doing nothing.

The New Yorker

I was doing activist work.

The New York Times

That's all I was doing.

The New Yorker

I was doing a play.

The New York Times - Arts

I was doing me job".

Independent

I was doing my thing.

The New York Times

I wondered what I was doing wrong.

The New York Times

I was doing LSD at the time".

The New York Times

I asked him how I was doing.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I was doing" to describe an action that was in progress at a specific time in the past. It's helpful for setting the scene or providing context for another event.

Common error

Avoid using the simple past tense when you want to emphasize the ongoing nature of an action in the past. For example, instead of saying "I did my homework when the phone rang", say "I was doing my homework when the phone rang" to show the action was in progress.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I was doing" functions as a verb phrase in the past continuous tense. It indicates an action or state that was in progress at a specific time in the past. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "I was doing" is a grammatically correct and highly common phrase used to describe an action in progress at a specific time in the past. Ludwig AI confirms this. Its neutral register makes it appropriate for various contexts, particularly in news and media. When writing, remember to use it to set the scene and provide context, and avoid confusing it with the simple past tense when emphasizing ongoing actions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I was in the process of doing

Emphasizes the ongoing nature of the action in the past.

I had been performing

This alternative uses the past perfect continuous tense, emphasizing the duration of the action leading up to a certain point in the past.

I engaged in

This is a more formal way of saying you participated in something.

I found myself occupied with

This suggests that you were busy with something, sometimes unexpectedly.

I devoted myself to

This phrase indicates a strong commitment to an activity.

I busied myself with

This implies a deliberate effort to keep oneself occupied.

I happened to be working on

This implies that the activity was somewhat coincidental or not necessarily planned.

I dedicated my time to

Suggests a conscious decision to spend time on something.

My activity consisted of

Describes the components of what you were doing.

I spent my time on

Highlights how time was allocated.

FAQs

How can I use "I was doing" in a sentence?

Use "I was doing" to describe an action that was in progress at a specific point in the past. For example, "I was doing my homework when you called".

What's a good alternative to "I was doing"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "I had been performing", "I was in the process of doing", or "I engaged in".

Is it correct to say "I was do" instead of "I was doing"?

No, "I was do" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "I was doing", which uses the past continuous tense.

What is the difference between "I did" and "I was doing"?

"I did" refers to a completed action in the past, while "I was doing" refers to an action that was in progress at a specific time in the past. For instance, "I did my chores" implies completion, whereas "I was doing my chores" suggests the action was ongoing.