I was founded

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I was founded" is not correct in standard English usage.
It is typically used incorrectly, as "founded" refers to the establishment of an organization or institution, not a person. Example: "The company I work for was founded in 1995."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The i was founded in 2010 as a cut-down version of the Independent aimed at commuters, before being sold to Johnston Press in early 2016 for £24m when the Independent went online-only.

The Guardian

The Dramatic Association of Georgetown College, renamed the Mask and Bauble Dramatic Society after World War I, was founded in 1852, and is itself the oldest surviving student dramatic society in America.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Id was founded in 1991 by five refugees from a software firm in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Forbes

Until recently I was Founding Associate Director of the Simons Institute for the Theory of Computing.

University of California, Berkeley

He was also a pioneering supporter when we launched British Journalism Review, of which I was founding editor, in 1989.

The Guardian

Prior to joining the faculty at HKS, I was founding Executive Director of the Analyst Institute (click here for a story in The New York Times Magazine profiling the organization, and the book based on that article, Victory Lab).

Harvard University

Anti-slavery broadside: "I would never have drawn my sword in the cause of America! if I could have conceived that thereby I was founding a land of slavery!".

Duke University

Anne Hastings was an enormous help to me when I was founding OI Haiti in Jacmel.

Huffington Post

JMS: I was founding artistic director of the Nevada Shakespeare Company (NSC).

Huffington Post

The key phrase: "I know it was founded under God".

Huffington Post

I feel sometimes like I am founded on those things and that regret and shame are almost institutionalised in me.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to your role in establishing something, use phrases like "I founded" or "I was a founder of" for clarity. Avoid passive voice constructions like "I was founded" as it implies you are the object being created, not the subject initiating the creation.

Common error

Avoid using "I was founded" because it mistakenly positions you as the entity being created, rather than the person or entity doing the creating. Ensure clarity by using active voice: "I founded this organization".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I was founded" functions incorrectly as it uses the passive voice when referring to a person. Based on Ludwig AI the standard English usage implies the establishment of something by a person rather than being established itself. Therefore, the correct phrase is "I founded".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Wiki

16%

Less common in

Science

16%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "I was founded" might appear in writing, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect because it misuses the term 'founded', which should describe the establishment of an organization, not a person. According to Ludwig AI this phrase is not correct in standard English. Instead, using phrases like "I founded", "I established", or "I was a founder of" provides clarity and grammatical accuracy. Although there are a few examples of this phrase being used in writing, is a clear indication of a common grammar error. Therefore, avoiding it would improve clarity and grammatical correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I am founded on

Expresses a state of being based or established upon something, rather than initiating something.

I am a founder of

Indicates an active role in establishing an organization or entity.

I am one of the founders of

Specifically identifies as one of multiple individuals involved in establishing an organization or entity.

I serve as a founder of

Highlights the active involvement in establishing an organization or entity.

I hold the position of a founder at

Specifically highlights the official role and capacity in establishing an organization or entity.

I am instrumental in founding

Stresses the importance of your contribution to establishing an organization or entity.

I played a key role in the foundation of

Emphasizes the significance of one's involvement in establishing an organization or entity.

I helped establish

Highlights the contribution of one's efforts to establishing an organization or entity.

I took part in the establishment of

Emphasizes your participation in setting up an organization or entity.

I was involved in the creation of

Highlights your participation and connection to establishing an organization or entity.

FAQs

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

No, the phrase "I was founded" is not grammatically correct in standard English. "Founded" implies the establishment of an organization or institution, not a person. It's more appropriate to say "I founded" something if you were the one establishing it, or "I am a founder of" something.

What's the correct way to express that you started an organization?

Instead of saying "I was founded", use phrases like "I founded", "I established", or "I created". These phrases clearly indicate that you were the one who initiated the organization's establishment.

How is "I founded" different from "I was founded"?

"I founded" implies active participation and initiation in establishing something, whereas "I was founded" incorrectly suggests that you are the entity being established. For example, "I founded this company" is correct; "I was founded by this company" is incorrect.

What are some alternative phrases to "I was founded" that I can use?

If you want to convey your role in starting something, you can use alternatives like "I established", "I created", "I initiated", or "I was a founder of" depending on the context.