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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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I was success

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

'I was success' is not correct and usable in written English.
To be grammatically correct and usable in written English, you would need to say 'I was successful'. Example: Even though the test was difficult, I was successful in passing it.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"But I'm Success".

"I'm success-oriented".

News & Media

The New York Times

"Everything I lived with my family was success," Flores says.

I have vowed to the world that I will be success, but setbacks have transformed me into liar.

News & Media

The New Yorker

You're a huge success!" I roll my eyes at her. "I am nowhere close to being success," I say.

News & Media

The New Yorker

I think that's success.

News & Media

Huffington Post

"First I was a success in my home town, then there was a little backlash there.

I was seeking success.

News & Media

Huffington Post

And in that sense, I was a success: I made people laugh.

News & Media

Vice

"I was a success because of the times I lived in," she told The Times in 1991.

News & Media

Los Angeles Times

It wouldn't be success, because I wouldn't be happy.

News & Media

Vice
Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct grammatical form, such as "I was successful", instead of the incorrect "I was success".

Common error

Avoid using the noun "success" in place of the adjective "successful". Instead of saying "I was success", say "I was successful" or "I achieved success".

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

78%

Authority and reliability

1.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I was success" is grammatically incorrect and doesn't function as a coherent phrase in English. The verb 'was' requires a predicate adjective or noun that describes the subject ('I'), and 'success' is a noun that cannot directly follow 'was' in this context. As Ludwig AI points out, this is not correct.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "I was success" is grammatically incorrect in English. The correct way to express this idea is to use an adjective like "successful" (e.g. "I was successful") or rephrase the sentence to use a verb (e.g. "I achieved success"). As Ludwig AI indicates, the original query is not correct and usable in written English. Using correct grammar is crucial for clear communication in any context.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "I was success"?

The correct way to express this idea is to say "I was "I was successful"". The word "successful" is an adjective that correctly describes your state.

Can "success" be used as an adjective?

No, "success" is a noun. To use it in a descriptive way, you need the adjective form, which is "successful". Therefore, you would say "I was successful" instead of "I was success".

What's the difference between "I was success" and "I was successful"?

"I was success" is grammatically incorrect. ""I was successful"" is the correct way to state that you achieved a positive outcome, using the adjective "successful" to describe your state.

What are some alternative ways to express "I was success"?

Instead of "I was success", you could say "I achieved success", "I found success", or "I experienced success". These alternatives use correct grammar to express the idea of attaining success.

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Source & Trust

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Authority and reliability

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Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: