i was about to

USAGE SUMMARY

"I was about to" is a grammatically correct phrase that is commonly used in written English.
It suggests that the speaker was in the midst of doing something when they were interrupted or something else happened. For example: I was about to apply for a new job when my current employer offered me a raise.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I was about to die".

The New York Times

"I was about to answer".

The New York Times

"I was about to vomit," she said.

The New York Times

I was about to give up.

The New York Times - Sports

I was about to turn thirty.

The New Yorker

"I was about to be 20.

The New York Times

I was about to finish my second.

The New York Times - Sports

"I was about to cry".

The New York Times

I was about to meet Marcella.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I was about to starteighth grade.

The New York Times - Books

As I was about to find out.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I was about to" to create a sense of anticipation or suspense in your writing. It's effective for highlighting interrupted actions or unfulfilled intentions.

Common error

Avoid using "I was about to" when you mean "I am about to". The former refers to a past intention, while the latter refers to a present or immediate future intention.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I was about to" functions as a verbal phrase indicating an intention or immediate anticipation of an action. It sets the stage for an action that was on the cusp of occurring, but was potentially interrupted or never fully realized. Ludwig examples support this function.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Formal & Business

18%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Science

9%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I was about to" is a very common and grammatically correct way to express an intention or near completion of an action, as confirmed by Ludwig. It's most frequently found in news and media contexts. Ludwig's analysis and real-world examples highlight its function as a verbal phrase indicating anticipation, with neutral register. When aiming for formality, consider alternatives like "I was on the verge of" or "I had intended to". Avoid tense errors by ensuring "I was about to" is followed by the base form of the verb.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

i was going to

Expresses a future intention that was planned but not necessarily imminent.

i was just going to

Focuses on the immediate future and intended action, similar to being on the verge of doing something.

i was on the point of

Emphasizes the nearness of the action, highlighting that it was very close to happening.

i was close to

Highlights the proximity to the action, emphasizing that it was on the verge of happening.

i had intended to

Highlights the prior intention to perform the action, though it might not have been imminent.

i had all but

Suggests that everything was in place for the action to occur, emphasizing the near completion.

i nearly did

Implies that the action almost occurred, focusing on the near miss.

i was ready to

Indicates preparedness and willingness to perform the action.

i almost

Expresses that an action nearly happened, focusing on the idea that it didn't actually occur.

i contemplated

Focuses on the thought process of considering the action, rather than the imminence of it.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "I was about to" to sound more formal?

In formal contexts, consider alternatives such as "I was on the verge of", "I had intended to", or "I was on the point of".

What's the difference between "I was about to" and "I was going to"?

"I was about to" implies a more immediate intention or action that was very close to happening, while "I was going to" ("I was going to") simply indicates a future intention.

Is it correct to say "I was about to did something"?

No, that is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "I was about to do something". The phrase "I was about to" should be followed by the base form of the verb.

What can I say instead of "I was about to" to express a near miss?

To express a near miss, consider using phrases like "I almost did" ("I almost did") or "I nearly did" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.