I was thinking about going

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "I was thinking about going" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when expressing the idea of considering going somewhere or doing something. For example, "I was thinking about going to the beach this weekend, but now I'm not sure."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

Yesterday, I was thinking about going to Egypt and getting myself ready for a scholarship to the States.

The New York Times

When I told him I was thinking about going to school, he didn't even respond.

The New Yorker

"I was thinking about going to Canada," he said, until someone mentioned the Arena Football League.

The New York Times - Sports

"I was thinking about going to Italy or maybe to China.

The New Yorker

"When I told him I was thinking about going to America, Wenger was a bit surprised," Grimandi said.

The New York Times - Sports

"I took my pre-placement test for the marines, I was thinking about going into that and flying helicopters.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

He was saying, "I am thinking about going DIY," and I think that's brilliant.

Vice

Hello, I'm thinking about going to university.

The Guardian

I'm thinking about going back to school.

The Guardian - Business

I'm thinking about going for dance classes.

The Guardian

Next Big Purchase: I am thinking about going to Istanbul, because I haven't been.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I was thinking about going" to express a tentative plan or a consideration of doing something in the near future. It conveys a less firm commitment than saying "I am going."

Common error

While grammatically correct, overuse of "I was thinking about going" can make your writing sound hesitant or lacking in decisiveness. Vary your sentence structure with stronger verbs when appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I was thinking about going" functions as a verb phrase expressing a state of contemplation or consideration. It indicates that the speaker is in the process of thinking about undertaking an action, as supported by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

17%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I was thinking about going" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to convey a tentative plan or consideration. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is perfectly correct, showing common use across various sources such as "News & Media" and "Wiki". While versatile, the phrase benefits from strategic application; while it is useful in multiple contexts, it's wise to make a conscious choice on how frequently you use this expression to maintain engaging writing. Consider alternatives such as "I considered going" or "I contemplated going" to add variety and nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I considered going

Uses "considered" instead of "thinking about", implying a more deliberate reflection.

I contemplated going

Replaces "thinking about" with "contemplated", suggesting deeper thought and planning.

I was planning on going

Focuses on the planning aspect rather than the thought process.

I entertained the idea of going

More formally expresses that the possibility of going was considered.

I had it in mind to go

Indicates that going was a possibility under consideration.

I had been toying with the idea of going

Suggests light consideration without concrete planning.

The possibility of going crossed my mind

Highlights the fleeting nature of the thought.

I was giving some thought to going

Implies a more active and conscious consideration of going.

It occurred to me to go

Indicates the idea came to mind spontaneously.

I envisioned myself going

Emphasizes the mental image of oneself going.

FAQs

What's the difference between "I was thinking about going" and "I am going"?

"I am going" indicates a firm decision, whereas "I was thinking about going" suggests consideration without a definite commitment.

How can I use "I was thinking about going" in a sentence?

You can use it to express a tentative plan, like "I was thinking about going to the party, but I'm not sure yet".

What can I say instead of "I was thinking about going"?

You can use alternatives like "I considered going", "I contemplated going", or "I was planning on going" depending on the context.

Is "I was thinking of going" grammatically correct?

Yes, "I was thinking of going" is also grammatically correct and carries a similar meaning to "I was thinking about going". Both are acceptable.