I was explaining

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I was explaining" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to describe a past action that you were in the process of doing. For example, "I was explaining the math problem to my students when they all started to raise their hands."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

I was explaining this to my 25-year-old daughter.

The Guardian - Opinion

Childress says, "I was explaining the notion of changing form and how useful fractal geometry is.

The New Yorker

But then, later, I was explaining our legal status to a friend.

The New York Times

"Basically I was explaining the history of recent pop music," he said of his accompanying letters.

The New York Times - Arts

"I was explaining that we're honoring police officers, that they're heroes," she said.

The Guardian

I was explaining to JP last year, that I was interested in reverse perspective.

The New Yorker

POP QUIZ: While I was explaining all that to you, gentle reader, what was your reaction?

The New York Times

"Sometimes even without meaning to, I was explaining how I thought the piece should have been done.

The New York Times - Arts

A little while ago, I was explaining all of these mixed-up feelings to my dear friend Barbara.

The New Yorker

"It dragged on for three, four, five weeks," he said, "like every day I was explaining something to someone.

The Guardian - Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

One of the evening's specials he announced to us had couscous on the plate, and--having just come back from Morocco--I was explaining to my dining companion that couscous is pasta, semolina flour rolled into tiny balls.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "I was explaining" with specific details to provide context and clarity. For example, "I was explaining the complex financial model to the team, detailing each variable and its impact."

Common error

Ensure the context of what you were explaining is clear. Avoid vague statements like "I was explaining it" without specifying what 'it' refers to, to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "I was explaining" is to act as a verb phrase in the past continuous tense. This construction describes an action that was in progress at a specific point in the past. This is demonstrated in the Ludwig examples, where the phrase appears in sentences describing ongoing situations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

8%

Science

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "I was explaining" is a versatile verb phrase used in the past continuous tense to describe an ongoing action of providing information or clarification. According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and very common, particularly in news and media contexts. The phrase is generally neutral in register, making it suitable for both formal and informal situations. When using "I was explaining", ensure clarity by specifying what you were explaining and avoid vagueness to prevent misunderstanding.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I was clarifying

Focuses specifically on making something easier to understand by removing ambiguity.

I was elucidating

Replaces "explaining" with a more formal synonym, focusing on making something clear and easily understood.

I was describing

Focuses on providing a representation or account of something in words.

I was detailing

Shifts the emphasis to providing a comprehensive account with specifics.

I was outlining

Suggests a structured overview was being provided, rather than a detailed explanation.

I was conveying

Emphasizes the act of communicating a message or information.

I was illustrating

Highlights the use of examples or visuals to aid understanding.

I was communicating

Broader term for making something known, not necessarily focusing on detailed explanation.

I found myself explaining

Adds a sense of inevitability or surprise to the act of explaining.

I happened to be explaining

Suggests the explanation was incidental or not the main purpose.

FAQs

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

Use "I was explaining" to describe a continuous action of providing information or clarification in the past, like "I was explaining the new policy to my colleagues when the fire alarm rang."

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

You can use alternatives like "I was clarifying", "I was detailing", or "I was describing" depending on the context.

Is "I was explaining" formal or informal?

"I was explaining" is generally neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. The level of formality depends more on the content being explained and the audience.

What is the difference between "I was explaining" and "I explained"?

"I was explaining" indicates an ongoing action in the past, while "I explained" suggests a completed action. For example, "I was explaining the process" implies you were in the middle of explaining, whereas "I explained the process" suggests you finished explaining it.