he was planning

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "He was planning" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when you want to explain what someone intended to do. For example: "He was planning to visit his grandmother the following week, but unfortunately her health took a turn for the worse and he had to cancel his trip."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He was planning other diversions, mainly music.

The Economist

"I could see what he was planning.

The New York Times - Magazine

"He was planning on returning," she said.

The New York Times

He was planning for this.

The Guardian

He was planning to become a diplomat.

The New York Times - Arts

He was planning it two days before.

The Guardian - Sport

He was planning to become an anesthesiologist.

The New Yorker

He was planning to play in Turkey.

The Guardian - Sport

No, he was planning to dive.

The New Yorker

He was planning a large party, and he was planning on having a good time".

The New York Times

He was planning to work with Edwards again.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "he was planning" to clearly communicate someone's intentions and preparations for a future event. Ensure the context provides sufficient detail about what was being planned.

Common error

Avoid shifting tenses inconsistently. If you start with "he was planning", maintain past tense throughout the description of the plan's development or outcome. For example, don't say, "He was planning a party, and everyone is invited."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he was planning" functions as a verb phrase indicating a past continuous action of intending or preparing for something. It provides context about the subject's intentions and future actions. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for use in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Science

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "he was planning" is a grammatically correct and versatile phrase used to indicate a past intention or preparation. Ludwig AI confirms its validity for use in written English. Its prevalence in News & Media demonstrates its broad applicability across various contexts. While numerous alternatives exist, such as "he intended to" or "he had plans to", the choice depends on the desired nuance. When using the phrase, maintaining consistent tense is crucial to avoid grammatical errors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he had plans to

Emphasizes the existence of a plan rather than the active process of planning.

he intended to

Focuses more on the intention behind the action rather than the planning process.

he was preparing to

Focuses on the actions taken to get ready for something.

he was intending to

Similar to "he intended to", but with a continuous aspect emphasizing the duration of the intention.

he aimed to

Highlights the goal or objective of the planning.

he purposed to

A more formal and somewhat archaic alternative, emphasizing a determined intention.

he foresaw

Suggests anticipation of a future event and planning accordingly.

he envisioned

Implies a mental image of the future and planning to realize that vision.

he arranged to

Similar to "he scheduled", but emphasizes the act of organizing and coordinating.

he scheduled

More specific, implying a definite time and arrangement was made.

FAQs

How can I use "he was planning" in a sentence?

Use "he was planning" to indicate someone's intention to do something in the past. For example, "He was planning to go to the concert, but he got sick".

What are some alternatives to "he was planning"?

Alternatives include "he intended to", "he had plans to", or "he was intending to", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "he is planning" instead of "he was planning"?

The choice depends on the time frame. "He is planning" refers to a current plan, while "he was planning" refers to a plan in the past.

What's the difference between "he was planning" and "he was going to"?

"He was planning" implies a more deliberate process of creating a plan, while "he was going to" simply indicates an intention or future action.