I was plotting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I was plotting" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a past action of planning or scheming, often with a sense of intrigue or secrecy. Example: "As I sat in the dimly lit room, I was plotting my next move in the game of strategy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

And they came back to me consciously when I was plotting American Tabloid.

The Guardian - Books

I think John thought I was plotting to murder my husband.

The Guardian

"Because I was plotting a mystery, I wanted to be very sure as to what clues I would plant".

The New York Times - Books

Soon I was plotting courses from island to island, using the ship's library of sailing manuals as reference.

The New York Times - Travel

News reports at the time said the United States believed that I was plotting to blow up its embassy in Sarajevo.

The New York Times

This is how she met Wayne Bridge in 2004, "when I was working, by the way, because I wanted to earn extra money, not because I was plotting to meet a footballer.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Then the IFS curve of MCC to the feature subset index i was plotted, in which the peak point was noted as h.

BioMed Research International

The normalized e(i) versus λ i is plotted in Figure7 in discrete black 'x'.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Each sub-figure i is plotted with the valid pixels extracted from all previous i groups (i.e., Groups 0 to i − 1).

Journal of Modern Transportation

The values of λ i are plotted against estimated values of residuals for BW and GL in Figure 4.

Genetics, Selection, Evolution

Briefly, different values of x(i) were plotted against the following ones in tree-dimensional axes: x, x+t and x+2t in Matlab, giving rise to the phase portrait of the signal.

BMC Physiology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "I was plotting", consider the connotations of the word "plotting". It often implies secrecy or a slightly negative intention. If you want to convey a more neutral or positive planning process, consider alternatives like "planning" or "strategizing".

Common error

Avoid using "plotting" in formal or professional writing unless you specifically intend to convey a sense of intrigue or potential negativity. In business or academic contexts, phrases like "planning" or "developing a strategy" are generally more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I was plotting" functions as a verb phrase within a sentence, acting as the main verb and describing an action that was in progress in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, further supporting its function as a standard verb phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I was plotting" signifies a past action of secretly planning or scheming, as indicated by Ludwig. Grammatically sound and generally versatile, this construction appears most frequently in News & Media and Science contexts, adopting a neutral register. While commonly used, it's essential to consider the implications of "plotting" – suggesting secrecy or potential negativity – and explore alternatives like "planning" or "strategizing" in contexts demanding neutrality. The phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I was planning

Replaces "plotting" with "planning", a more general term for devising a course of action.

I was scheming

Substitutes "plotting" with "scheming", suggesting a more devious or underhanded plan.

I was devising a plan

Rephrases the sentence to emphasize the creation of a plan, using a more formal tone.

I was formulating a strategy

Replaces "plotting" with "formulating a strategy", implying a more calculated and strategic approach.

I had been planning

Uses the past perfect continuous tense to emphasize the duration of the planning.

I was mapping out

Replaces "plotting" with "mapping out", suggesting a visual or detailed plan.

I was engineering

Implies a sophisticated and technical approach to the plotting, suggesting careful design.

I was architecting

Emphasizes the creative and structural aspect of planning, akin to designing a building.

My plan was to

Shifts the focus to the intention and the results of the plan

I intended to

Focuses on the intention of the person and is less descriptive of the strategy

FAQs

What does "I was plotting" mean?

The phrase "I was plotting" means that the speaker was making secret plans or schemes, often with a hint of intrigue or potential mischief. It implies a deliberate and often covert planning process.

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

You can use alternatives like "I was planning", "I was scheming", or "I was devising a plan" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

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

The phrase "I was plotting" is suitable when describing a situation where you were secretly devising a plan, especially if it involves a degree of complexity, strategy, or even a slightly negative intention. It is less appropriate in formal or professional contexts where a more neutral term like "planning" would be preferred.

Is "I was plotting" grammatically correct?

Yes, "I was plotting" is grammatically correct. It uses the past continuous tense, indicating an action that was in progress at a specific time in the past. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.