I was plagued

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I was plagued" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone is troubled or afflicted by something, often repeatedly or persistently. Example: "I was plagued by doubts about my decision, which made it difficult to move forward."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

I was plagued by tempting thoughts of surrender.

The New York Times - Arts

"Starting around that time, I was plagued by a recurring nightmare about penguins".

The Guardian - Books

"Actually," he says, "that was a moment, halfway through that, where I was plagued by doubt.

The Guardian - Film

Still, I was plagued by a virus, by a byte of uncertainty.

The New Yorker

Worse, when I tested the pen, I was plagued with technical glitches while trying to send data to my PC.

The New York Times - Tech

If you look at my career you will see I was plagued with quite a few injuries.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

"I'm plagued by constant anxiety".

The Guardian - Film

I am plagued by allergies and headaches from indoor pollution.

The Guardian

I am plagued with leg neuropathy, chronic fibromyalgia, and flare up of arthritis, Oxycodone works wonders.

Harvard University

As a result I am plagued with lots of street noise.

The New York Times

In spite of this, I'm plagued by a bizarre, irrational and retroactive jealousy of her past relationships.

The New York Times - Style

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I was plagued" to vividly convey a sense of persistent trouble or affliction. It's stronger than saying "I had problems with" and suggests a more relentless and bothersome experience.

Common error

While "I was plagued" is grammatically sound, it can sound overly dramatic or formal in everyday conversation. Opt for simpler alternatives like "I was bothered by" or "I had trouble with" in casual settings to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I was plagued" functions as a statement of experience, where the speaker indicates they were troubled or afflicted by something. Ludwig shows this phrase used to express a variety of negative experiences, from doubts to technical glitches.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Academia

16%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Wiki

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "I was plagued" effectively communicates a state of persistent trouble or affliction. According to Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and commonly used in news, media, and academic writing. While versatile, be mindful of using it in very informal settings, where simpler language may be more appropriate. Consider related phrases like "I was troubled by" or "I suffered from" for alternative ways to express similar sentiments. Based on the analysis and Ludwig's assessment, "I was plagued" is a valid and useful phrase for expressing ongoing difficulties.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I was troubled by

Replaces "plagued" with a more general term for being bothered or worried.

I was afflicted with

Substitutes "plagued" with a term suggesting suffering from a disease or ailment, real or metaphorical.

I suffered from

Uses a more common verb to express experiencing something negative.

I was beset by

Emphasizes the feeling of being constantly attacked or harassed by something.

I was haunted by

Suggests a persistent and disturbing presence in one's mind.

I battled with

Conveys a sense of active struggle against something.

I wrestled with

Indicates a difficult and prolonged internal struggle.

I was constantly bothered by

Rephrases the sentence to highlight the ongoing nature of the disturbance.

I continually struggled with

Uses "struggled" to emphasize the effort involved in dealing with the issue.

I experienced recurring problems with

Focuses on the repetitive nature of the negative experience.

FAQs

What does "I was plagued" mean?

The phrase "I was plagued" means that someone was persistently troubled, bothered, or afflicted by something. It suggests a recurring or ongoing problem that caused distress or difficulty.

What are some alternatives to "I was plagued"?

You can use alternatives like "I was troubled by", "I suffered from", or "I was beset by" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "I was plagued" in formal writing?

Yes, "I was plagued" is appropriate in formal writing to convey a sense of persistent trouble or affliction. However, consider your audience and the overall tone of your writing to ensure it fits the context.

What's the difference between "I was plagued by" and "I had problems with"?

"I was plagued by" suggests a more persistent and bothersome experience than "I had problems with". "I was plagued by" implies that the issue was relentless and caused significant distress, while "I had problems with" is a more general statement of difficulty.