I was ranking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I was ranking" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a past action related to evaluating or ordering items, people, or concepts based on certain criteria. Example: "Last week, I was ranking the top ten movies of the year for my blog."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

When he was chairman, I was ranking member, and we had to Supreme Court nominations.

The Washington Post

Ms. Harman wrote to Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. that she was outraged to learn from press reports that government agents "secretly wiretapped my conversations in 2005 or 2006 while I was ranking member on the House Intelligence Committee".

The New York Times

For the long picks, I was ranking stocks based on: Low price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio, low price/book, high Piotroski score, low F-Score, low accruals, insider buying, low short interest, earnings momentum, sales growth and institutional buying.

Forbes

It also helped that I was ranking pretty highly (for me) in part, because the game currently has a few users, meaning I could actually hit the top 20 a couple of times... #humblebrag.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

In this sense, if i m g i is ranked before i m g j in the ranked list of i m g q, that is, τ q (i <τ q (j), then ρ q, i) ≤ρ q, j).

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

This uncertainty is captured by the rank acceptability indices b i r, which describe the fraction of Monte Carlo iterations for which alternative i is ranked at place r.

BioMed Research International

The pairwise winning indices c ij describe the fraction of Monte Carlo iterations for which alternative i is ranked at a higher place than alternative j.

BioMed Research International

I was ranked #5, and #3 among those still living.

Cornell University

"Soon, in the slalom I was ranked under 100 and last year I had a major breakthrough".

The Guardian - Sport

"I was ranked No. 4 in the world, and they only took three," she said.

The New York Times - Sports

I was in the final with her, though I shouldn't have been as I was ranked 20.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "I was ranking", ensure the context clearly indicates the criteria you were using for ranking. For example, "I was ranking the candidates based on their experience and qualifications."

Common error

Avoid using "I was ranking" without specifying what you were ranking and the basis for your ranking. Without this context, the sentence can be vague and uninformative.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I was ranking" functions as a declarative statement describing a past action of assigning a rank or order. Ludwig examples showcase its usage in diverse contexts, from politics to sports to personal achievements.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Academia

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "I was ranking" is a grammatically sound and useful construction used to describe a past activity of assigning a position or order based on specific criteria. Ludwig confirms its correctness. Though not exceedingly common, appearing in various sources like news media, science, and academia, "I was ranking" serves a clear purpose in conveying how something was evaluated or organized. Alternatives such as "I was evaluating" or "I was assessing" can provide similar meanings with subtle nuances. When employing the phrase, ensure that the context includes the basis for ranking to enhance clarity. Its register typically remains neutral, adapting based on the source, showcasing its versatile nature.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I was classifying

Replaces "ranking" with "classifying", emphasizing the act of sorting into categories rather than ordering.

I was categorizing

Similar to "classifying", but focuses on the process of assigning items to specific categories.

I was evaluating

Replaces "ranking" with "evaluating", highlighting the assessment of value or quality.

I was assessing

Similar to "evaluating", but focuses on a more detailed and systematic appraisal.

I was positioning

Shifts the focus to placing something in a specific order or location relative to others.

I was ordering

Emphasizes the act of arranging items in a specific sequence.

I was grading

Specifically refers to assigning grades or scores based on performance or quality.

I was rating

Focuses on assigning a specific rating or score to something based on criteria.

My task involved ranking

Adds a degree of formality by specifying that ranking was part of a larger task.

The ranking process involved me

Rephrases the sentence to emphasize the process of ranking itself and its effects on the speaker.

FAQs

What does "I was ranking" mean?

The phrase "I was ranking" means that in the past, you were assigning a position or order to something based on specific criteria.

How to use "I was ranking" in a sentence?

You can use "I was ranking" by following it with the objects you ranked and the criteria. For example, "I was ranking the books by popularity."

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

You can use alternatives like "I was evaluating", "I was assessing", or "I was categorizing" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "I was ranking"?

Yes, "I was ranking" is grammatically correct and commonly used to describe a past action of assigning rank or order. Ludwig confirms its validity.