was doing

USAGE SUMMARY

"was doing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate past continuous action, such as something taking place in the past over a period of time. For example: "I was doing the dishes when the phone rang."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She was doing fine.

The New Yorker

She was doing Joy.

Independent

"Everybody was doing it".

The New York Times

Crack was doing its damage.

The New Yorker

And whatever I was doing.

The New York Times - Arts

Wondered what she was doing".

The New York Times

All this I was doing.

The New Yorker

Nothing, I was doing nothing.

The New Yorker

That's how it was doing.

The New Yorker

I was doing activist work.

The New York Times

That's all I was doing.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was doing" to describe an action that was in progress at a specific time in the past. For example, "I was doing my homework when you called."

Common error

Avoid using "was doing" to describe a completed action in the past. Instead, use the simple past tense. For example, instead of "I was doing my homework yesterday", say "I did my homework yesterday".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "was doing" is to form the past continuous tense. This tense describes an action that was in progress at a specific point in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable structure.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was doing" functions as the past continuous tense, indicating an ongoing action in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It's widely used, especially in news and media contexts, to describe actions in progress. While versatile, it's important to distinguish its use from the simple past tense and to avoid using it for habitual past actions. By understanding these nuances, you can effectively use "was doing" in your writing and speech.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in the process of

Highlights that an action is currently underway.

working on

Implies effort and progress towards a goal.

performing

Emphasizes the execution of a task or action.

carrying out

Suggests a more deliberate and planned action.

engaged in

Focuses on the activity itself, rather than the performance of it.

executing

Implies a formal or technical execution of something.

involved in

Highlights participation or inclusion in an activity.

spending time on

Focuses on the duration of the activity.

occupied with

Suggests being busy or engaged with something.

undertaking

Indicates a significant or challenging project.

FAQs

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

"Was doing" indicates a continuous action in the past. For example, "She "was doing her best"" or "They "were doing their job"".

What's a more formal way to say "was doing"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "engaged in", "performing", or "executing". These alternatives often provide a more precise or sophisticated tone.

What's the difference between "was doing" and "did"?

"Was doing" indicates an action in progress, while "did" indicates a completed action. For example, "I "was doing laundry"" suggests the action was ongoing, whereas "I "did the laundry"" implies it's finished.

Is it ever incorrect to use "was doing"?

Yes, it would be incorrect to use "was doing" if you're describing a habitual action in the past. In such cases, it's better to use "used to do" or the simple past. For example: "I "used to exercise"" instead of "I was doing exercise every day when I was younger".