I was married

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I was married" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing your past marital status, typically in a narrative or when providing personal history. Example: "Before moving to this city, I was married for five years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

(I was married now, too).

The New Yorker

I was married this summer.

The New York Times

I was married in 1989.

Independent

"And I was married".

The New York Times - Magazine

I was married there".

The New York Times

Soon I was married and pregnant.

The New York Times

"People think I was married to Mia.

The New Yorker

"I can't deny I was married.

Independent

It was good I was married then".

The New York Times - Sports

I was married to my career.

The New Yorker

"I was married once before," she said.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "I was married" to provide context, follow it with details like the duration, circumstances, or outcome of the marriage to give the reader a clearer picture.

Common error

Avoid simply stating "I was married" without any further explanation if the context requires more details about the marriage, such as its duration, outcome, or relevant circumstances.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I was married" functions as a statement of past marital status. According to Ludwig, the expression is correct and commonly used to provide personal history or context in a narrative. The auxiliary verb 'was' indicates that the state of being married occurred in the past.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I was married" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote a past marital status. Ludwig confirms its correctness and usability in various contexts. Its primary function is to provide factual information about one's marital history, and it maintains a neutral register, suitable for both casual and professional settings. Considering its prevalence across numerous sources like The New York Times and The Guardian, it’s a versatile and widely understood statement. When using the phrase, remember to provide sufficient context to avoid ambiguity and ensure clarity in your communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I used to be married

Emphasizes the past and discontinued nature of the marital status.

I had been married

Highlights the duration before a specific point in time.

I once was married

Emphasizes that the marriage occurred at some point in the past.

I was previously married

Indicates a prior marital status before the current one.

I have been married before

Highlights past experience in marriage.

Marriage was once my status

More formal and less direct way of stating the previous marital status.

At one time, I was married

Similar to 'I once was married', but with a stronger sense of time passing.

I experienced marriage

Focuses on the experience of being in a marriage.

I had a husband/wife

Indicates a past spousal relationship without explicitly stating marital status.

I am divorced

Specifies the outcome of the marriage.

FAQs

What's the difference between "I was married" and "I used to be married"?

"I was married" is a simple statement of a past marital state. "I used to be married" emphasizes that the marriage is over and no longer current.

What can I say instead of "I was married" to sound more formal?

You could use phrases like "I had been married" or "At one time, "I was married"", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "I am married" if I was previously married and am now divorced?

No, "I am married" implies a current marital status. You should say ""I was married"" or "I am divorced" to accurately reflect your status.

How to use "I was married" in a sentence?

You can use ""I was married"" to provide background information, such as "Before starting my career, "I was married" for five years" or ""I was married" when I lived in New York".