i was working

USAGE SUMMARY

"I was working" is a correct and usable sentence in written English.
You can use it to refer to something you were doing at a specific time in the past. For example, "I was working late last night when my computer crashed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

I was working late.

The New York Times

I was working construction.

The New York Times

Because I was working".

The New York Times - Arts

"I was working".

The New Yorker

"I was working weekends.

The New York Times

"I was working menial jobs.

The New York Times

"I was working all day.

The New Yorker

I was working for Domino's.

The New Yorker

I was working for ABC.

The New Yorker

I was working on it.

The New York Times

But I was working.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When giving an explanation or justification, use "I was working" to indicate why you were unavailable or preoccupied. For example, "I couldn't answer the phone because I was working."

Common error

Avoid using "I was working" without providing sufficient context. Instead of simply stating "I was working", specify what you were working on or where you were working to provide more clarity and relevance to your audience. For example, use "I was working on the Johnson account" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I was working" functions as a statement indicating a past action in progress. Ludwig provides many examples where it sets the scene or offers an explanation for unavailability or a specific situation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "I was working" is a grammatically sound and highly prevalent expression used to describe an ongoing activity in the past. As shown by Ludwig, it commonly appears in contexts such as News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business settings. It serves to provide context, offer explanations, or justify actions or inactions. While versatile, it's best practice to add clarifying information about the nature or location of the work being done to avoid vagueness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I was employed

Focuses on the state of being employed during a specific time.

I held a job

Emphasizes the act of holding a position.

I was on duty

Implies being actively responsible for a task or role, particularly in professions like security or emergency services.

I had a position

Similar to "I held a job", but highlights the existence of a role.

I was actively engaged

Emphasizes the level of involvement in a particular task or project.

I was occupied with work

Highlights busyness and engagement in labor.

I was in the middle of a task

Focuses on the current state of working on a specific task.

My work involved

Shifts the focus to describe the tasks that were part of one's work.

I dedicated my time to

Emphasizes the commitment and time spent working on something.

I devoted myself to

Highlights a strong sense of dedication and focus on the work.

FAQs

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

Use "I was working" to describe an ongoing activity in the past. For example, "I was working late last night" or "I was working on a project when you called".

What are some alternatives to "I was working"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "I was employed", "I was on duty", or "I was engaged in".

Is it correct to say "I was work" instead of "I was working"?

No, "I was work" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "I was working", where "working" is the present participle of the verb "work".

What's the difference between "I was working" and "I worked"?

"I was working" describes an action in progress at a specific time in the past, while "I worked" describes a completed action or a general state in the past. For example, "I was working when you called" versus "I worked there for five years".