I was researching

USAGE SUMMARY

"I was researching" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it whenever you want to discuss something that you were looking into or studying prior to the current moment. For example, "I was researching new marketing strategies to improve our sales, but my findings were inconclusive."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I was researching a piece about refugee solidarity in Britain".

Independent

We discovered it when I was researching my new book.

The Guardian - Books

"I was researching all this stuff because I wanted to know more.

The New York Times

I was researching a social enterprise that I planned to launch at business school.

The Economist

I was researching my book without even knowing it was a book".

The New Yorker

S.: Strangely enough, the most vivid moment came when I was researching in Washington, D.C.

The New Yorker

I was researching my article for the magazine, "The Zamboni Effect," which was published last October.

The New York Times

I was researching autism at the time and we became collaborators and friends.

The Guardian

Our first assignment was to the US, where I was researching a book for six months.

The Guardian - Tech

Journalist Nellie Bly jumped off the page at me as I was researching Victorian female travellers.

The Guardian - Travel

At the time I was researching for an Open University course on learning disability.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I was researching" to introduce background information or context in your writing, setting the stage for your current findings or arguments.

Common error

Don't just say "I was researching." Specify the subject of your research and, if relevant, the methods you employed. For example, instead of saying "I was researching", say "I was researching the effects of climate change on coastal communities using data from the IPCC report."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I was researching" functions as an introductory clause or phrase that sets the stage for providing context, background information, or explaining the process of gathering information. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a grammatically correct way to introduce the topic.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

59%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "I was researching" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase, as affirmed by Ludwig AI, to introduce background information or provide context for a statement. It works well in both casual and professional settings, especially in news, business, and scientific contexts. For clarity, always specify what you were researching. Some alternatives include "I investigated", "I studied", or "I looked into". By following these guidelines, you can effectively use "I was researching" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I was studying

This alternative is similar, but emphasizes the continuous nature of the action.

I investigated

This alternative is a more direct and concise way of saying you looked into something.

I looked into

This alternative is a more informal and general way of saying you examined something.

I studied

This alternative implies a more formal or academic approach to gathering information.

I was digging into

This alternative emphasizes investigative nature of finding something.

I examined

This alternative suggests a closer, more detailed inspection.

I was exploring

This alternative implies a more open-ended and less structured investigation.

My research involved

This alternative shifts the focus to the research itself rather than your action.

I delved into

This alternative suggests a deep and thorough investigation.

I analyzed

This alternative indicates a systematic and detailed examination, often with a focus on data.

FAQs

How can I use "I was researching" in a sentence?

You can use "I was researching" to provide background information or explain how you came to a particular conclusion. For example, "I was researching the history of the internet when I discovered this fascinating fact."

What are some alternatives to "I was researching"?

Some alternatives include "I investigated", "I studied", or "I looked into" depending on the specific context and the depth of your investigation.

Is it better to say "I researched" or "I was researching"?

Both are grammatically correct, but "I researched" implies a completed action, while "I was researching" suggests an ongoing or recently concluded process. The best choice depends on the context of your sentence.

What is the difference between "I was researching" and "I did research on"?

"I was researching" focuses on the activity, while "I did research on" emphasizes the research itself as a task. The former is often used to introduce context, while the latter is used to state that you performed research on a specific topic.