I was normally

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I was normally" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a habitual action or state in the past that was typical or expected. Example: "I was normally the first to arrive at the office every morning."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Simulated liabilities l and binomial and ordinal categorical (y) data were modeled and analyzed as continuous traits using the linear model as follows, (12) y i ~ = x i ′ β + ∑ k = 1 K z ik a k + e i, where y i ~ is l i or y i for animal i, e i was normally distributed residuals with mean = 0 and unknown variance σ e 2 [ 10].

Genetics, Selection, Evolution

"It allowed me to step outside of what I was normally doing".

The New York Times - Sports

Then again, as Jordan quickly recognized, "I'm not back here with the same guys I was normally with either".

The New York Times - Sports

She supplied him with a vital missing element, one that also eludes most of his characters: "I was normally neurotic, but Ingmar liked to say that, unlike him, I was born in one piece".

The New Yorker

"I was going to lots of gigs for the NME and I was normally drunk, so if I saw a band I liked, I'd just go up to them at the end of the show and ask if they wanted to make a single," he explains.

The Guardian - Music

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Since dW i is the increment of a Wiener process, this implies that dW i is normally distributed with variance dt, which in turn implies that σĈ i dW i is normally distributed with variance σ Ĉ i 2 dt.

AAPS Journal

Both δ1 i and δ2 i are normally distributed random effects with expected value 0 and variance, respectively.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

In practice, the distance S i is normally chosen to be larger than 1 cm, indicating that the value of | M| is normally larger than 10.

Biomedical Optics Express

Muscle is an exception in that HLA-I is normally undetectable but up-regulated in inflammatory myopathies.

American Journal of Pathology

RIG-I is normally present in cells in an autorepressed conformation with the CARDs stacked against the HEL2i domain.

eLife

"Well, I am normally.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I was normally" to describe actions or states that were typical for you in the past, especially when contrasting them with a current or changed situation. For example, "I was normally a calm person, but this event made me anxious".

Common error

Avoid using "I was normally" when you mean to describe a universal truth or a general state applicable to everyone. "Normally" refers to your typical state, not what is generally true. For example, instead of saying "I was normally expecting rain in April", say "Rain is normally expected in April".

Linguistic Context

I was normally" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb, describing a habitual action or state in the past. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used. The examples show the phrase appearing in varied contexts, reinforcing its function as a descriptor of past habitual behavior.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Science

37%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I was normally" is a grammatically correct and acceptably common way to describe a typical past state or action. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. While most frequently found in news and media contexts, it also appears in scientific publications. Keep in mind to use "I was normally" to describe your typical state in the past, especially when you intend to contrast it with the present and don't confuse it with general statements of fact or universal truths.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I typically was

Replaces "normally" with "typically", offering a direct synonym for describing a usual past state.

I usually was

Substitutes "normally" with "usually", another common synonym indicating habitual past behavior.

I generally was

Uses "generally" instead of "normally", slightly shifting the emphasis to a broad, overall pattern.

I commonly was

Replaces "normally" with "commonly", highlighting the frequent occurrence of a past state.

I customarily was

Substitutes "normally" with "customarily", suggesting a habitual action based on custom or tradition.

I habitually was

Uses "habitually" instead of "normally", emphasizing the routine or ingrained nature of a past behavior.

I would normally be

Adds "would be" to emphasize a conditional or expected state in the past.

I used to be normally

Incorporates "used to be" with "normally", suggesting a past state that is no longer true.

I had been normally

Employs the past perfect tense to indicate a state that existed before a specific point in the past.

Ordinarily, I was

Reorders the sentence structure, placing "ordinarily" at the beginning for emphasis.

FAQs

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

Use "I was normally" to describe a past state or action that was typical or habitual for you. For example, "I was normally the first one to arrive at work."

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

You can use alternatives like "I typically was", "I usually was", or "I generally was" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "I am normally" instead of "I was normally"?

Yes, both are grammatically correct, but they refer to different time frames. "I am normally" describes your current typical state, while "I was normally" describes a past typical state.

What's the difference between "I was normally" and "I am usually"?

"I was normally" refers to a past habit or state that may no longer be true, whereas "I am usually" describes a present habit or state. While similar, the key difference lies in the timeframe: past vs present.