I were thinking

USAGE SUMMARY

The correct phrase to use in written English is "I was thinking." Example: I was thinking about the best way to approach this problem.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

If I were thinking about doing that, I'd take it.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Peter Askin and I were thinking about writing "Company Man".

The New York Times

At that time, S. and I were thinking of having a child.

The New Yorker

The writers and I were thinking of the wonderful western The Searchers.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"Julian and I were thinking first about the idea of ghost limbs," Myoda said.

The New Yorker

The last thing my partner and I were thinking about was my financial situation.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

I'm thinking, I'm thinking.

The New York Times

I'm thinking Chinese.

The Economist

I was thinking: "Typical.

Independent

I'm thinking Citizens Bank.

The New York Times

After: "I'm thinking.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "I was thinking" instead of "I were thinking" in formal writing. The latter is grammatically incorrect.

Common error

Avoid using "were" with the first-person singular pronoun "I". The correct conjugation is "I was", not "I were".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I were thinking" is an attempt to express a past continuous action, but it uses an incorrect verb form. It's meant to convey that the speaker was in the process of thinking about something at a particular time. Ludwig AI confirms that the correct form is "I was thinking".

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Encyclopedias

4%

Vice

4%

Less common in

The Guardian - Film

4%

The Guardian - Lifestyle

4%

The Guardian - TV & Radio

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "I were thinking" is a grammatically incorrect attempt to conjugate the verb "to be" in the past continuous tense with the first-person singular pronoun "I". As Ludwig AI suggests, the correct form is "I was thinking". Despite its incorrectness, the phrase appears with some frequency in various sources, primarily in news and media contexts. When writing, it's important to use the correct form, "I was thinking", to maintain grammatical accuracy and clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I was thinking

Corrects the verb conjugation to the standard form.

I have been thinking

Indicates a continuous thought process up to the present.

I am considering

Emphasizes the act of evaluating or pondering an option.

I had been thinking

Refers to a past continuous thought, often before another event.

I thought about

Implies a completed act of thinking about something.

I've been pondering

Suggests deep or prolonged thought.

I'm reflecting on

Conveys thoughtful consideration of past events or ideas.

I'm giving thought to

Formal way to express considering something.

I'm contemplating

Suggests a serious and thorough consideration.

It crossed my mind

Indicates a thought that briefly occurred to the speaker.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say "I were thinking"?

The correct phrase is "I was thinking". The verb "to be" conjugates to "was" in the past tense for the first-person singular pronoun "I".

Is it ever correct to use "I were thinking"?

The phrase "I were thinking" is grammatically incorrect in standard English. You should use "I was thinking" instead.

What can I say instead of "I were thinking" to sound more formal?

While "I was thinking" is generally acceptable, you could use phrases like "I had been considering" or "I have been reflecting on" for a more formal tone.

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

"I was thinking" refers to a thought that occurred in the past, while "I am thinking" refers to a thought occurring in the present.