I was ending

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I was ending" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It can be used to indicate that you were in the process of concluding something in the past. Example: "I was ending my presentation when the power went out."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Leah Voted at 185 West End Avenue as I was ending my morning run.

The New York Times

"I had to watch myself at parties because I was ending up quite unpopular.

Vice

The other day I was ending a phone call with a woman I mentor, and she expressed to me her gratitude for being able to trust me.

Huffington Post

"I was ending an incredibly busy season, balancing my old job of real estate while trying to establish my video production company".

Huffington Post

In the summer of 1995 I was ending a long, difficult live-in relationship with my boss and was on a two-month assignment in Russia and Eastern Europe writing a guidebook.

Huffington Post

As I was ending my interview with Philip, he mentioned that if I found myself in San Francisco, I could swing by the Nebia office to experience their shower.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

"I am ending my subscription.

The Guardian

I'm ending my life knowing you will be safe and in good medical care".

The New Yorker

December 26th — Why am I so fat? December 30th — I told everyone I'm ending the year early.

The New Yorker

"I'm ending on a high – well, except for the hurricane".

The Guardian - TV & Radio

So I'm ending this post to go do that.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I was ending" to describe the process of finishing an action or activity in the past. For clarity, specify what you were ending to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "I was ending" without specifying what you were ending. Provide context to ensure the reader understands what you are referring to. For instance, instead of saying "I was ending", specify "I was ending my presentation" for better clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I was ending" functions as a verb phrase in the past continuous tense. It describes an action (ending) that was in progress at a specific time in the past. Ludwig shows examples of this phrase used in various contexts, demonstrating its versatility.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I was ending" is a grammatically correct and common phrase used to describe an action of concluding something in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, its primary function is to convey an ongoing process of finishing. While predominantly found in news and media, the phrase maintains a neutral register, allowing for versatile application across various communication styles. Related phrases like "I was finishing" and "I was concluding" offer semantically similar alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I was finishing

Focuses on completing the action with a slightly less formal tone.

I was concluding

Implies a more formal and deliberate act of bringing something to a close.

I was completing

Highlights the action of making something whole or finalized.

I was ceasing

Emphasizes the act of stopping or discontinuing something.

I was halting

Suggests a sudden or abrupt stop to an activity.

I was terminating

Implies a formal and often official ending of something.

I was winding up

Indicates gradually bringing something to an end, often in an informal context.

I was wrapping up

Similar to winding up, but slightly more direct and common.

I was calling it quits

A more idiomatic expression meaning to stop doing something.

I was bringing to a close

A more verbose way of saying ending, emphasizing the act of closure.

FAQs

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

You can use "I was ending" to describe the process of finishing something in the past, such as "I was ending my shift when the phone rang" or "I was ending the meeting when a new topic was introduced".

What phrases are similar to "I was ending"?

Similar phrases include "I was finishing", "I was concluding", or "I was completing" which all convey the idea of bringing something to a close.

Is it grammatically correct to say "I was ending"?

Yes, "I was ending" is grammatically correct. It is the past continuous tense of the verb "end", indicating an action in progress in the past.

What's the difference between "I was ending" and "I ended"?

"I was ending" describes an ongoing process of finishing something, while "I ended" indicates that the action of ending is already completed. For example, "I was ending the call" implies that you were in the process of ending it, while "I ended the call" means you had already finished it.