he was exciting

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence 'he was exciting' is not correct as written.
In order for it to be correct in written English, you must use the correct adjective form, which is 'exciting.' Example: His performance was so exciting that even the grumpiest people in the audience couldn't help but cheer.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

"In company, he was exciting, humble, warm and witty.

The Guardian - Arts

But he was exciting, and he loved her.

The New York Times

"He was exciting to work with, but 'gentle' would not be the word that you would use.

The New York Times

Mr. Stepien is not a bravura dancer, but he was exciting by virtue of his nobility and his strong, serene partnering.

The New York Times - Arts

He was exciting in these roles, but they began to expose a chink in his vocal armoury, a dangerously open production in the upper register.

The Guardian - Music

Pitt was fun in such films as "Snatch," in which, playing an Irish bare-knuckle boxer, he throws himself around the set and speaks in a brogue thicker than the head on a pint of Guinness, and he was exciting as the unpredictable, mock-fascist underground leader in "Fight Club".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

"So, he's exciting".

The New York Times

I think he's exciting.

The New York Times - Arts

I think he's exciting to watch.

The New York Times

He's exciting, powerful and dangerous.

The Guardian - Sport

He is exciting on the run and in the air.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone or something that evokes excitement, use the adjective form 'exciting'. For example, use the phrase “he was an exciting person” or "his performance was exciting", to ensure grammatical accuracy.

Common error

Avoid using the present participle form ('exciting') as a simple adjective to describe a past state. Instead, use 'excited' to describe someone experiencing excitement or 'exciting' to describe something causing excitement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he was exciting" is grammatically incorrect, as noted by Ludwig AI. If the goal is to describe someone who provokes excitement, the correct construction should be "he was an exciting person". The adjective 'exciting' describes a quality that causes excitement.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

82%

Science

9%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "he was exciting" appears in various contexts, particularly in News & Media, it's grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI points out that the correct adjective form should be 'excited' (to describe someone experiencing excitement) or, when describing a person who causes excitement, to rephrase as "he was an exciting person". Alternatives like "he was "thrilling"" or "he was "captivating"" can also be used, depending on the intended nuance. Ensure correct grammar to maintain clarity and credibility in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he was thrilling

Replaces 'exciting' with 'thrilling', emphasizing a sense of exhilaration.

he was electrifying

Substitutes 'exciting' with 'electrifying', highlighting sudden excitement and thrill.

he was captivating

Substitutes 'exciting' with 'captivating', highlighting the ability to hold attention and interest.

he was fascinating

Replaces 'exciting' with 'fascinating', emphasizing a strong interest or attraction.

he was stimulating

Replaces 'exciting' with 'stimulating', focusing on the intellectually or emotionally arousing aspect.

he was invigorating

Changes 'exciting' to 'invigorating', stressing a revitalizing or energizing quality.

he was stirring

Changes 'exciting' to 'stirring', highlighting the strong emotional effect that he provoked.

he was dynamic

Replaces 'exciting' with 'dynamic', emphasizing energy and forcefulness.

he was intense

Replaces 'exciting' with 'intense', emphasizing a high degree of strength or feeling.

he was remarkable

Substitutes 'exciting' with 'remarkable', highlighting his worth to be noticed.

FAQs

How to correctly use "he was exciting" in a sentence?

The phrase "he was exciting" is grammatically incorrect. To use it correctly, consider rephrasing as "he was an exciting person" or use "he was excited", which means he experienced excitement.

What's the difference between "he was exciting" and "he was excited"?

"He was exciting" (incorrect) implies he caused excitement in others or was an exciting person. "He was excited" means he personally experienced excitement.

What can I say instead of "he was exciting"?

You can use alternatives like "he was an "exciting person"", "he was "thrilling"", or "he was "captivating"" to describe someone who causes excitement. Or use the correct form "he was "excited"".

Is "he was exciting" grammatically correct?

No, "he was exciting" is not grammatically correct when intending to describe someone causing excitement. The correct form to describe someone experiencing excitement is "he was excited".