I was draftsman

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I was draftsman" is not correct in English.
It should be "I was a draftsman." You can use it when referring to a past occupation or role as a draftsman, which is someone who prepares technical drawings. Example: "Before I became an architect, I was a draftsman for several years, working on various construction projects."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

EU Parlament

Los Angeles Times

Huffington Post

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

When I was draftsman for the Prince Programme in the framework of the 2005 budget, I recall that the Commission had proposed splitting the funds for this programme in half, and that was after the shock of the double 'No' vote on the draft Constitution.

EU Parlament

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Mr President, in the opinion of the Committee of which I am the draftsman, I will refer, naturally enough, to the energy, research and development aspects.

EU Parlament

- (DE) Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, I am the draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on Legal Affairs on the proposal for a common legal framework for the marketing of products.

EU Parlament

"I was working as a draftsman for a firm in Dorchester, but because I was also performing in the evenings with a rock group, I kept falling asleep over my desk," he told a London interviewer in 2006.

Los Angeles Times

"He had a company in the Bronx making elevators and, when I was 14, they needed draftsmen, and I had been drafting already for a couple of years".

Huffington Post

It was only when I realized that, accepted and celebrated my shortcomings as a draftsman, that I was able to become much more productive.

Vice

Asked why he has always tended to use "found" images, rather than imagining them himself, he replied, without embarrassment, "I was never well trained as a draftsman.

The New Yorker

When I was young, my Dad -- a draftsman, painter, and musician -- used to draw with me for hours every day on pieces of bristol board spread out on the floor.

Huffington Post

Asked why he has always tended to use "found" images, rather than imagining them himself, he replied, without embarrassment, "I was never well trained as a draftsman..

The New Yorker

I'm not a great painter, but I'm a hell of a good draftsman".

The New York Times

During WWII, she was a draftsman in ship building.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I worked as a draftsman" for better clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

A common mistake is to omit the indefinite article "a" or "an" before the noun "draftsman" when describing your past profession. Always include the article for grammatical accuracy: "I was a draftsman", not "I was draftsman".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I was draftsman" functions as a statement of past profession or role. However, it is grammatically incorrect due to the omission of the indefinite article "a". The Ludwig AI tool identifies this error, suggesting the correct form should be "I was a draftsman".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

EU Parlament

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "I was draftsman" aims to express a past profession, it is grammatically incorrect. The Ludwig AI tool correctly identifies that the indefinite article "a" is missing, making the correct phrase "I was a draftsman". This corrected phrase is suitable for neutral to formal contexts, while the uncorrected version is grammatically flawed, even if the intention is clear. Alternative phrasings like "I worked as a draftsman" are also valid. Remember to always include the article "a" when referring to professions in this manner.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I worked as a draftsman

This alternative uses the verb 'worked' to express the role directly, making it grammatically sound.

I used to be a draftsman

This alternative conveys a past role or profession, implying that the person is no longer working as a draftsman.

I served as a draftsman

This suggests a formal role or employment as a draftsman.

I held the position of draftsman

This alternative is a more formal way of saying that you were a draftsman.

My role was draftsman

This focuses on the role itself rather than the person performing it, but implies you held the role.

I functioned as a draftsman

This describes the activity or actions performed in the role, similar to 'I worked as'.

I have experience as a draftsman

This highlights your background and knowledge instead of directly stating your past role.

I am a former draftsman

This indicates you were previously a draftsman but are no longer in that role.

Drafting was my profession

This phrase places emphasis on drafting as a career.

I performed drafting duties

This specifies the tasks and responsibilities carried out.

FAQs

How do I correctly say I used to work as a draftsman?

The correct way to express that you previously worked as a draftsman is to say "I was a draftsman" or "I worked as a draftsman". Omitting the article "a" is a common grammatical error.

What's wrong with saying "I was draftsman"?

The phrase "I was draftsman" is grammatically incorrect because it omits the indefinite article "a" before the noun "draftsman". The correct phrasing is "I was "I was a draftsman"".

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

You can use alternatives like "I worked as a draftsman", "I used to be a draftsman", or "I served as a draftsman".

Which is correct, "I was draftsman" or "I was a draftsman"?

""I was a draftsman"" is correct. The indefinite article "a" is necessary before the noun "draftsman" because it is a countable noun referring to a profession.