I was earning

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I was earning" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a past action of receiving payment or income for work or services rendered. Example: "Last year, I was earning a decent salary at my previous job before I decided to switch careers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I was earning a pittance.

The Guardian - Books

I was earning 200 grand a year.

The Guardian - Sport

Before that, I was earning more than double that".

The Guardian - Travel

At this point I was earning five thousand a year!

The Guardian

I was earning 10 grand an hour opening shopping centres.

The Guardian - Film

I was 15 and I was earning $100 a week.

The New York Times

I was earning nine thousand dollars a year.

The New Yorker

I was earning so much money and I was 19; it set me up for life.

Independent

I was earning, in them days, about £12 a week and that was Saturdays as well.

The Guardian - Sport

The year before, in 1986, I was earning $72,000 a year as a copywriter.

The New York Times

"Manchester City did not offer me three times what I was earning at Arsenal.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the context when using "I was earning". It is suitable for discussing past jobs, freelance work, or any situation where you received regular payment. Make sure the surrounding sentences provide enough information about the source and amount of income to provide better context.

Common error

Avoid using "I was earning" when referring to your current income. This phrase specifically refers to past earnings. Use "I am earning" to describe your present income.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I was earning" functions as a declarative statement describing a past continuous action of receiving income. This is confirmed by Ludwig AI, and various examples illustrate its use in describing past employment and financial situations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Wiki

2%

Science

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "I was earning" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe past income. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, with numerous examples showing its use in various contexts. It has a neutral tone and is most frequently found in news and media sources. When using this phrase, it's important to maintain proper tense consistency and consider the level of formality required. Alternatives include "I made" or "my compensation was", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. Remember to use "I am earning" when you are talking about the present.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I made

Focuses on the act of producing income rather than simply receiving it.

I received as payment

Emphasizes the act of receiving compensation, adding specificity.

my income was

Shifts the focus to the income itself, rather than the act of earning.

I drew a salary of

More formal; specifies salary as the form of income.

I profited

Implies that the income was gained as a result of an investment or business venture.

I took home

Highlights the net income after deductions.

I cleared

Indicates the net profit after expenses.

I grossed

Refers to the total income before deductions.

my compensation was

A more formal way of indicating total earnings, including benefits.

I collected

Implies a regular gathering of funds, rather than a one-time payment.

FAQs

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

"I was earning" is used to describe income received in the past. For example: "Before changing careers, "I was earning" a good salary as an engineer."

What's a more formal way to say "I was earning"?

For a more formal tone, you could say "My compensation was" or "I drew a salary of". For example, "In my previous role, "my compensation was" quite competitive".

What can I say instead of "I was earning" to emphasize effort?

To emphasize the effort involved, you could say "I made". For example: "Through hard work and dedication, "I made" a significant income last year".

How do I specify the type of income when using "I was earning"?

You can specify the type of income by adding details such as "I was earning a salary of", "I was earning commission on sales", or "I was earning royalties from my book".