he found himself feeling

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he found himself feeling" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a realization or awareness of one's emotions or state of mind in a narrative context. Example: "As he walked through the empty streets, he found himself feeling a deep sense of nostalgia for his childhood."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

But as the deliberations grew more intense, he said, he found himself feeling more aware of the expectations black people might apply to him.

The New York Times

Jim Manley, a lobbyist and former longtime aide to former Senate minority leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev ., saiD-Nev .und himsaid feeling sorry for Republican leaders after watcheng Trump's televised meeting with lawmakers on guns at the White House last week.

The Washington Post

It was a chore that reacquainted him with the performer he had been early in his career and the artist he has since become, and as he wandered through more than a decade's worth of unreleased music, he found himself feeling nostalgic, relieved and occasionally mortified.

The New York Times - Arts

And while he may have been looking for a partner and not a wife, with Amal he found himself feeling differently than before and ready to make room for this new chapter in his life.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Yet today, amid the celebration of black empowerment and African pride, he says he finds himself feeling a bit lonely and a bit unwanted.

The New York Times

And he finds himself feeling tied to Haiti again.

Huffington Post

He has found himself feeling even more isolated.

The New York Times

This dream only intensified as he grew older and found himself feeling, as he put it, ever more "contrary to the civilized world".

The New York Times

He'd been spending time around people he knew, and yet still found himself feeling alone.

The Guardian - Film

He later went on anti-war marches and found himself feeling "utter contempt" for the state.

The Guardian

Those who weren't able to do that, especially as children, found themselves becoming the collateral damage of the consumer war". He later went on anti-war marches and found himself feeling "utter contempt" for the state.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "he found himself feeling" to subtly reveal a character's emotional state without explicitly stating it, allowing the reader to infer the emotion through context.

Common error

Avoid using "he found himself feeling" excessively, as it can create a passive voice and weaken the narrative. Instead, occasionally use more direct verbs to describe the character's emotions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he found himself feeling" serves as a narrative device, often used to depict a character's internal state or emotional realization. As Ludwig AI points out, this phrase often appears in contexts where a character is coming to terms with an emotion, rather than simply experiencing it.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "he found himself feeling" is a common and grammatically correct way to express a character's realization or awareness of an emotion. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. While it's primarily used in News & Media contexts, and the phrase is deemed as "Correct", it's important to avoid overuse and consider more direct alternatives for a stronger narrative voice. Related phrases like "he realized he was feeling" or "he discovered he felt" can offer slight variations in meaning and style.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he realized he was feeling

Replaces "found himself" with "realized", emphasizing a sudden awareness.

he discovered he felt

Substitutes "found himself" with "discovered", highlighting the act of uncovering a feeling.

he became aware of feeling

Uses "became aware of" to express a gradual understanding of the emotion.

he experienced the sensation of

Replaces "feeling" with "sensation", focusing on the physical aspect of the emotion.

he sensed himself feeling

Emphasizes an intuitive understanding of the emotion.

he had the impression of feeling

Indicates a less certain or more tentative feeling.

he started to feel

Focuses on the beginning of the feeling.

he began to experience

Highlights the onset of a new experience or emotion.

he perceived himself as feeling

Emphasizes the subjective nature of the feeling.

he recognized the feeling of

Highlights the identification and understanding of a specific emotion.

FAQs

How can I use "he found himself feeling" in a sentence?

Use "he found himself feeling" to express a realization or a gradual awareness of an emotion. For example, "After the argument, "he found himself feeling" surprisingly calm".

What are some alternatives to "he found himself feeling"?

Alternatives include phrases like "he realized he was feeling", "he discovered he felt", or "he became aware of feeling", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "he found himself feeling" too passive of a construction?

While it can be passive, it's a common and accepted way to describe someone's emotional state. Using it sparingly and varying your sentence structure will prevent it from weakening your writing. Consider more direct alternatives if the passive voice feels too distant.

What's the difference between "he found himself feeling" and "he felt"?

"He felt" is a direct statement of emotion. "He found himself feeling" implies a discovery or realization of that emotion, suggesting a subtle shift in awareness or understanding.