I was interned

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I was interned" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone was confined or imprisoned, usually for political or military reasons. Example: During World War II, many Japanese Americans were interned in camps by the US government, despite being US citizens. My grandfather was one of those who were interned.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

During the three years that I was interned by the Japanese my reading followed a new set of fracture lines.

The Guardian - Books

My family had recently moved to New York from my native Argentina, and when I caught pneumonia, I was interned in the isolation ward of a Manhattan hospital.

The New York Times

As I was interned in Auschwitz in 1939 (you didn't know??? Just read it in Wikipedia) when I was 15 years old (why not?), I am now, not about to celebrate my 59th birthday, but rather my 89th.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Behind the scenes: It was an extended-stay hotel, and we had some older guests, and a couple of them died while I was interning.

The New York Times

I was interning with a platform product management team, which required interacting with a large number of stakeholders.

University of California, Berkeley

I was interning with a team of Tokyo architects and, with two Swiss and Canadian friends, was sampling a new cafe.

The Guardian

While I was interning last summer, a colleague suggested editing scientific journals as a possible career option for me. .

Science Magazine

I'm reminded of something I heard when I was interning at Bloomberg news back at the turn of the century (2000, actually).

TechCrunch

The guy I was interning for was called Dom.

Vice

I was interning at Greenpeace's headquarters in Washington, DC.

Huffington Post

I was interning at a small little public relations firm in lower Manhattan.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I was interned" when specifically referring to confinement for political or military reasons, especially during wartime or periods of conflict. This phrase carries a specific historical and legal weight.

Common error

Avoid using "I was interned" when you mean "I was interning". Interning refers to an internship, a work experience, while internment refers to imprisonment or confinement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I was interned" functions as a statement in the passive voice, where the subject (I) receives the action of being interned. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Academia

33%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I was interned" is a grammatically sound passive voice statement used to describe an experience of confinement, often for political or military reasons. While relatively rare in contemporary usage according to Ludwig, it carries a specific historical and legal weight. Ludwig AI confirms its proper use in written English. It's essential to distinguish it from similar-sounding phrases like "I was interning". The phrase's primary contexts are News & Media and Academia.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I was confined

Direct synonym focusing on restriction of movement.

I was detained

Emphasizes temporary holding, often by authorities.

I was imprisoned

Focuses on being held in a prison.

I was incarcerated

Formal term for imprisonment.

I was held captive

Highlights the lack of freedom and control.

I was placed in a camp

Specifies the type of confinement location.

My freedom was restricted

Shifts the focus to the restriction of freedom.

I was put into custody

Highlights being taken into legal control.

I experienced internment

Nominalization of the verb, emphasizing the experience.

I was forced to stay

Emphasizes the lack of personal choice in the confinement.

FAQs

What does "I was interned" mean?

The phrase "I was interned" means that the speaker was confined or imprisoned, often for political or military reasons, especially during wartime.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "I was interned"?

It's appropriate to use "I was interned" when you want to describe your experience of being confined, especially under political or military orders. Ensure it's not confused with "I was interning", which refers to an internship.

What is the difference between "I was interned" and "I was imprisoned"?

While both suggest confinement, "I was interned" often implies confinement for political or military reasons, whereas "I was imprisoned" generally refers to confinement as punishment for a crime.

Can I use "I was detained" instead of "I was interned"?

You can use "I was detained", but it suggests a more temporary holding. "I was interned" implies a longer period of confinement, often during wartime.