I was positive

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I was positive" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing certainty or confidence about something in the past. Example: "I was positive that I had submitted the report on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The selection intensity (i) was positive in six of the seven cohorts and on average tended to be different from zero (t = 2.01, p = 0.09).

Plosone

From these 1000 samples, the predicted probability was estimated for each individual IPRAVE farm i as: ρ̅ i  = (number of times farm i was positive) / 1000.

Epidemics

I was positive.

The New York Times

I was positive of that.

The New York Times - Magazine

I saw it, so I was positive".

The New York Times - Sports

I was positive that I would be feeling better today.

The New York Times - Sports

I was positive you were from Kansai," I said.

The New Yorker

I was positive I beat it this time".

The New York Times - Sports

"That's when I was positive," Ms. Isabelle-Stark said.

The New York Times

"I was positive what I was doing," Mr. Harrison said.

The New York Times

The eight years I thought I was positive cost me more than 45 pounds.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the context: While "I was positive" is generally acceptable, alternatives like "I was certain" or "I was sure" might be more appropriate in formal settings.

Common error

While acceptable, consistently using "I was positive" can sound repetitive. Vary your language by using synonyms such as "I was certain" or "I had no doubt" /s/I+had+no+doubt to add nuance and sophistication to your writing.

Linguistic Context

Expressing certainty about a past state or belief. The phrase functions as a clause within a sentence, conveying assurance regarding something in the past. According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Science

14%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "I was positive" is a common and grammatically sound way to express certainty about something in the past. As Ludwig AI explains, this phrase conveys confidence. It's frequently used in news and media, but also appears in scientific and business contexts. While perfectly acceptable, consider using synonyms such as "I was certain" or "I had no doubt" to avoid repetition and adapt to more formal tones. Remember to clearly communicate your past conviction effectively and appropriately.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I was certain

Replaces "positive" with "certain", maintaining a similar level of confidence.

I knew for a fact

Emphasizes knowledge and certainty about something.

I was sure

Uses "sure" instead of "positive", offering a slightly less formal tone.

I was convinced

Suggests a state of being persuaded or completely sure.

I had no doubt

Expresses the absence of doubt, implying certainty.

I felt confident

Shifts from a statement of fact to a description of feeling confident.

I believed firmly

Highlights the strength of belief, similar to being positive.

It was my conviction

Highlights the deeply held belief or certainty of the speaker.

I could swear

Informal way to express a strong belief or certainty.

I ascertained

Indicates a confirmed finding, more formal than "I was positive".

FAQs

What does "I was positive" mean?

The phrase "I was positive" typically means that you were certain or sure about something in the past. It expresses a strong belief or conviction.

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

You can use alternatives like "I was certain", "I was sure", or "I had no doubt" depending on the context.

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

Yes, "I was positive" is generally acceptable in formal writing. However, consider using more formal synonyms like "I was certain" to maintain a professional tone.

How do I use "I was positive" in a sentence?

You can use "I was positive" to express your certainty about a past event or belief, such as, "I was positive that I had locked the door" or "I was positive about my decision".