as I was

USAGE SUMMARY

"as I was" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something happened before a second action. For example: "I was walking to the store when I saw a rabbit in the garden, as I was about to take a picture, it quickly hopped away."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

AS: I was a wreck.

BBC

AS: I was raised Mainline Protestant.

Huffington Post

As I was.

The New Yorker

Or as I was.

The New Yorker

Intrigued as I was?

Stanford University

I did as I was told.

The New York Times

Not as much as I was.

The New York Times

"As I was saying," Bosworth said.

The New Yorker

I paused as I was passing.

The New Yorker

As I was crossing Chatham Bar.

The New Yorker

They were as dumbfounded as I was.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as I was" to smoothly transition between describing a past state or ongoing action and its consequences or related events. It helps create a sense of continuity in your narrative.

Common error

Ensure that the context clearly indicates what state or action you're referring to when using "as I was". Without sufficient context, the phrase can become vague and confuse the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as I was" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase, modifying a clause by providing a temporal or conditional context. Ludwig's examples show it connecting a past state or action to a subsequent event, setting the stage for what follows.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Academia

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "as I was" is a grammatically sound and versatile adverbial phrase used to set context by referring to a previous state or action. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, indicating it functions to provide background information or temporal grounding in a narrative. It is prevalent across various contexts, including News & Media and Academia, with a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal communications. When using "as I was", ensure clarity by providing sufficient context to avoid ambiguity, and consider alternative phrases like "when I was" or "while I was" to enhance precision. Top authoritative sources using it include The New York Times, The New Yorker, and The Guardian.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

when I was

Focuses specifically on the time period "I" was in a particular state.

while I was

Emphasizes the duration of the action or state.

during the time I was

More formal and explicitly references the period.

at the time I was

Highlights a specific point in time during which something occurred.

in my previous state

Focuses on a change from a former condition.

formerly being

Formal way to denote a past condition.

prior to my current state

Emphasizes the contrast with the present situation.

back when I was

More informal, implying a nostalgic or retrospective tone.

before I became

Highlights a transformation or change in identity or status.

in my earlier days

General reference to a past period of life.

FAQs

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

Use "as I was" to refer back to a previous state or action, often to provide context or explain a subsequent event. For example, "As I was walking down the street, I noticed a strange sign."

What phrases are similar to "as I was"?

Similar phrases include "when I was", "while I was", or "during the time I was". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "like I was" instead of "as I was"?

While "like I was" might be used in informal speech, "as I was" is generally considered more grammatically correct and appropriate for formal writing. Consider the formality of your context.

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

"As I was" refers to a past state or action, while "as I am" refers to the current state. The choice depends on whether you're describing something in the past or present. For example, "I was happy as I was," versus "I am content as I am."