I was editing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I was editing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an action you were performing in the past, specifically related to making changes or corrections to a document or piece of content. Example: "Yesterday, I was editing the final draft of my article before submission."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

I was editing in the camera.

The New Yorker

"I was editing four magazines," he said.

The New York Times - Style

"I was editing word by word by word and noticing more of the details".

The New York Times - Books

"When he called me, I was editing my movie, The Eagle Path," Van Damme explains.

The Guardian - Film

I was editing A City of Sadness when Tiananmen Square happened.

The Guardian - Film

Once the publisher of a magazine I was editing took me out to lunch.

The Guardian - Opinion

"I first encountered George's work in the 1980s, when I was editing the Pencilwise section at Games magazine.

The New York Times

LAST week, as I was editing my student film, my eyes wandered to the monitor of a nearby student.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

The 1616 edition of The Political Works of James I was edited by Charles Howard McIlwain (1918).

Encyclopedia Britannica

I'm editing it.

The Guardian - Film

"I never feel like I'm editing myself," Cahill said.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I was editing" to describe an ongoing editing activity in the past, especially when narrating events or providing context to a situation.

Common error

Avoid using "I edited" when you want to emphasize the duration or ongoing nature of the editing process in the past. "I edited" implies a completed action, while "I was editing" highlights the activity in progress.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I was editing" functions as a verb phrase in the past continuous tense, describing an action that was in progress at a specific time in the past. As supported by Ludwig, this usage is grammatically correct and widely accepted.

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 editing" is a grammatically sound and very common phrase used to describe an ongoing editing activity in the past. As Ludwig confirms, it's widely accepted and suitable for various contexts. The phrase's primary function is to provide context, and it maintains a neutral register. While other similar phrases exist, such as "I edited", it's essential to choose the one that best conveys the intended meaning and nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I was in the process of editing

Emphasizes the ongoing nature of the editing task at a specific point in the past.

I edited

Omits the continuous aspect, focusing on the completed action of editing.

I reviewed and edited

Specifies a more comprehensive process that includes both reviewing and editing.

I used to edit

Indicates a habitual past action of editing, implying it's no longer a current activity.

I had been editing

Indicates a past continuous action that started before a specific point in the past.

I happened to be editing

Adds an element of chance or surprise to the editing activity.

I found myself editing

Implies a passive involvement in the editing process, suggesting it wasn't necessarily planned.

I spent time editing

Highlights the duration spent on editing, focusing on the time investment.

I worked on editing

Focuses on the labor or effort involved in the editing task.

My task was to edit

Highlights the responsibility or assigned duty of editing.

FAQs

How do I use "I was editing" in a sentence?

Use "I was editing" to describe an action you were actively performing in the past, such as, "I was editing the report when the power went out".

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

You can use alternatives like "I edited" (for a completed action), "I was revising", or "I worked on editing" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "I edited" and "I was editing"?

"I edited" implies a completed action, while "I was editing" suggests an ongoing activity in the past. For example, "I edited the document yesterday" versus "I was editing the document when you called".

Is it correct to say "I am editing" instead of "I was editing"?

While both are grammatically correct, "I am editing" refers to the present, indicating you are currently editing something. "I was editing" refers to the past, indicating you were editing something at a specific time before now.