I was preparing to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I was preparing to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when indicating that you were in the process of getting ready to do something in the past. Example: "I was preparing to leave for the meeting when I received an urgent call."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

I read through a lot of World Bank statistics and essays as i was preparing to write the Comment this week.

The New Yorker

Then, as I was preparing to leave Italy, Ben, my other brother, rang with his news.

The New Yorker

Just when I was preparing to give up, I saw a van approaching.

The New Yorker

Within a few weeks I was preparing to leave the country.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

As I was preparing to leave I became aware of an uncomfortable shift in public opinion.

The Guardian - Opinion

I spoke with Des Forges several times by phone when I was preparing to go to Rwanda in 2001.

The New Yorker

I was preparing to leave when I spotted an album with a wonderful title: "More Songs About Buildings and Food".

The New Yorker

On a Friday, the dean caught me in the hall just as I was preparing to enter my classroom.

The New Yorker

Before the attack on Pearl Harbor, I was preparing to come to the United States to install training equipment.

The New York Times - Science

"But when I was preparing to start auditioning, I couldn't find five soprano arias that would work for me.

The New York Times - Arts

THREE years ago in Italy, as I was preparing to drive the reborn Fiat 500, a company spokesman had a point he wished to emphasize.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I was preparing to" to clearly indicate a state of readiness for a specific action in the past, ensuring that the context provides clarity on what the preparation entailed and the intended outcome.

Common error

Avoid vagueness by specifying what actions were being undertaken to prepare. Instead of just saying "I was preparing to present", elaborate with "I was preparing to present by rehearsing my slides and gathering relevant data".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I was preparing to" functions as a verbal phrase indicating a past continuous action of getting ready for something. Ludwig AI indicates that this expression is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "I was preparing to" is a versatile and grammatically sound construction used to convey a past state of readiness or anticipation, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It effectively communicates that an action was being planned or readied for, although not necessarily completed. Its prevalence across diverse sources, particularly in news and media, underscores its accessibility and neutrality. When employing this phrase, clarity is key; providing specific details about the preparation process enriches the context and ensures clear communication. Alternatives like "I was getting ready to" or "I was about to" can offer nuanced variations in meaning, depending on the intended emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I was getting ready to

Indicates a more general state of readiness, often implying a less structured or formal preparation.

I was about to

Suggests that the action was imminent, very close to happening.

I was on the verge of

Emphasizes the nearness of the action, implying that it was almost certain to occur.

I had been planning to

Highlights the planning aspect, indicating that the action was premeditated.

I found myself preparing to

Emphasizes the reflexive nature of getting ready, when the user wasn't actively doing something.

I anticipated that I would

Focuses on the expectation of a future action, rather than the preparation itself.

I was intending to

Emphasizes the intention to perform an action, which may or may not involve explicit preparation.

I was gearing up to

Implies a more enthusiastic and energetic preparation, often for a challenging task.

I had every intention of

Focuses on the intent to act, potentially minimizing the focus on the preparation process.

I was setting out to

Suggests an active initiation of a plan or journey towards a specific goal.

FAQs

How can I use "I was preparing to" in a sentence?

You can use "I was preparing to" to indicate that you were in the process of getting ready for something. For instance, "I was preparing to leave when the phone rang."

What are some alternatives to "I was preparing to"?

Some alternatives include "I was getting ready to", "I was about to", or "I had been planning to", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

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

Both are grammatically correct, but they refer to different time frames. "I am preparing to" indicates present or future action, while "I was preparing to" refers to past action.

What is the difference between "I was preparing to" and "I prepared to"?

"I was preparing to" indicates a continuous process of getting ready, while "I prepared to" suggests a completed action of making preparations. For example, "I was preparing to go" suggests the process was underway, while "I prepared to go" indicates the preparations were finished.