i was starting

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence "I was starting" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that a particular action has just begun to take place. For example: "I was starting to feel better after a few days of rest."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Also, I was starting to hate coffee.

The New York Times

I was starting to do characters.

The New York Times - Arts

I was starting to get cold.

The New Yorker

I was starting to reach him.

The New Yorker

I was starting to drown.

The New Yorker

I was starting to tire.

The New York Times - Tech

"I was starting each semester with three.

The Guardian

Now I was starting to see more.

The New Yorker

"To some degree, I was starting over".

The New York Times - Sports

I was starting to detect a pattern.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"I was starting to receive commissions.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I was starting" to clearly indicate that an action or process had just begun at a specific point in the past. This provides a sense of immediacy and ongoing progress.

Common error

While "I was starting" is grammatically correct, overusing it can make your writing repetitive. Vary your language by using synonyms like "I began", "I commenced", or restructuring the sentence to avoid the continuous tense if it fits the context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I was starting" functions as part of a verb phrase in the past continuous tense. It indicates that the subject ("I") was in the process of beginning an action or experiencing the onset of a state. Ludwig examples show its use in contexts like "I was starting to feel" or "I was starting to understand".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

HuffPost

15%

The New Yorker

11%

Less common in

Los Angeles Times

4%

The Guardian

4%

Forbes

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "I was starting" is a commonly used phrase that places an action in progress in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and wide applicability across various contexts. The phrase is most frequently found in News & Media sources. While versatile, avoid overuse by considering synonyms like "I began" or rephrasing. Use "I was starting" to establish immediacy and indicate the initial phase of an action or feeling. The phrase is generally neutral in tone, fitting into varied writing styles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I began

A simpler, more direct way to express the initiation of an action.

I began to start

Emphasizes the initiation of starting, adding a layer of emphasis.

I was commencing

Focuses on the action in progress, with a slightly more formal tone than "starting".

I commenced starting

Uses a more formal verb, "commenced", to indicate the beginning of an action.

I initiated

Highlights the active role in beginning something.

I set about starting

Indicates a deliberate and purposeful commencement.

I was getting ready to start

Indicates preparation or anticipation before beginning.

I found myself starting

Suggests a more passive or unexpected beginning.

I turned to starting

Focuses on the transition towards starting something new.

I got going

An informal alternative that suggests the process of starting.

FAQs

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

Use "I was starting" to describe an action that began in the past and was in progress. For example, "I was starting to understand the complex plot of the novel as I read further".

What's a more formal alternative to "I was starting"?

A more formal alternative would be "I commenced". For instance, instead of saying "I was starting the project", you could say "I commenced the project".

Is it correct to say "I was start" instead of "I was starting"?

No, "I was start" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "I was starting", which uses the past continuous tense to indicate an action in progress.

What can I say instead of "I was starting" to show excitement?

To show excitement, you could say "I was eager to start" or "I was excited to begin". These options convey enthusiasm about initiating the action.