I was video

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I was video" is not correct in standard written English.
It is unclear and lacks proper context, making it unusable in its current form. Example: "I was video recording the event when it started to rain."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"I also would pan away from a ufo if I was video recording it.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

I think I was videoed reading a few lines from a script.

The Guardian - Books

I was video-chatting with Laurie Keefer, a GI Health Psychologist from Mount Sinai, who was going to do a gut-directed hypnotherapy session on me.

Vice

I was thin, so people assumed I was athletic, but all I played was video games.

The Guardian - Opinion

This, I thought, was video dating on a whole new level.

The New York Times

If you had told me I'd be video blogging and blogging, I would have said, no way.

The New York Times

I was learning, video by video, topic by topic, as they were themselves too.

Huffington Post

"I mean, there's video evidence.

BBC

Yesterday, I was on video conference with a number of ministers of health from Latin America.

The New York Times - Magazine

René Préval (president of Haiti): Wyclef Jean's "If I Was President" video.

Forbes

"That's why I was shooting video.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using more precise language to communicate your intended meaning clearly. If you are appearing in the video, say so.

Common error

Avoid using "video" as a verb. It's grammatically incorrect and creates ambiguity. Always use a proper verb form like "filming", "recording", or "watching" depending on the intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I was video" is grammatically incorrect and lacks a clear function. It attempts to use "video" as a verb, which is non-standard. As Ludwig AI points out, it's better to use verbs like filming, recording, or watching to convey the intended meaning.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I was video" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided. As Ludwig AI highlights, it is not a standard construction in English. Instead, use more precise and grammatically correct phrases such as "I was filming", "I was recording video", or "I was watching a video" to clearly communicate your intended meaning. While the examples show its occasional use in news and media, it's essential to prioritize clarity and correctness in your writing. Choosing appropriate verbs enhances understanding and avoids ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I was filming

Replaces "video" with the verb "filming", providing a clearer and more direct indication of the action performed.

I was recording video

Adds the noun "video" after "recording" to explicitly state what was being recorded.

I was shooting a video

Uses "shooting" in place of "video", which is more common when referring to the creation of video content.

I was making a video

Emphasizes the creation aspect using "making" instead of the less clear "video".

I was videotaping

Combines "video" and "taping" into a single verb, implying the act of recording video.

I was capturing video

Focuses on the action of capturing footage rather than simply being "video".

I appeared in a video

Indicates that the subject was featured in a video, rather than creating it.

I was watching a video

Changes the meaning to observing video content, instead of being part of its creation.

I saw a video

Similar to "I was watching a video" but less continuous, simply mentioning the act of seeing the video

I created a video

Highlights the act of creation and production of a video

FAQs

How can I correctly use "I was video" in a sentence?

The phrase "I was video" is grammatically incorrect. Instead, use phrases like "I was filming a video", "I was recording video", or "I was watching a video" depending on the context.

What's a better alternative to "I was video"?

Alternatives include "I was filming", "I was recording video", or "I was shooting a video". Each conveys the action of recording or creating video content more clearly.

Is it correct to say "I was videoing"?

While "videoing" is sometimes used informally, it's generally better to use more formal and widely accepted alternatives such as "filming" or "recording".

How do I specify that I was watching, not making, a video?

To specify that you were watching a video, use the phrase "I was watching a video". This clearly indicates that you were the audience, not the creator, of the video.