was existing

USAGE SUMMARY

"was existing" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is the past tense form of the verb "to exist," indicating that something existed in the past. One example of its use could be: "The old house in the woods was existing long before the town was built."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

37 human-written examples

She was "existing".

The New York Times

I was existing on a balance of Starbucks and weed," he says while rolling a joint.

The Guardian - Music

Having left my job "voluntarily", I was existing on less than £10 a week.

The Guardian

"He said that death seemed like a good alternative to the way he was existing".

The New York Times

He had a variety of jobs and so did she, but it wasn't long before she was existing on benefits.

The Guardian - Books

There was existing planning permission to convert the main barn into a five-bedroom, three-bathroom house.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

There were existing staff too.

Independent

Most of our customers are existing developers".

The New York Times

The key here is existing industries.

The Guardian

I'm existing, put it that way.

The Guardian - Music

There are existing models for this.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a state of being in the past, consider whether the simple past tense ("existed") provides a more direct and concise alternative to "was existing".

Common error

Avoid using "was existing" when a simple past tense like "existed" is sufficient. Overuse of the progressive tense can make your writing sound awkward or unnecessarily complex.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was existing" functions as a past continuous verb phrase, indicating a state of being or an action that was in progress at a specific time in the past. It's often used to describe something that was present or occurring.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

39%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was existing" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe a continuous state of being in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, with examples found across various domains, including news, science, and general writing. While grammatically sound, it may sometimes be more elegant and concise to use the simple past tense "existed". Despite its correctness, writers should be mindful of overusing continuous tenses where simpler forms suffice. The phrase finds application across a range of registers, from neutral news reporting to more technical scientific discourse, offering flexibility in expressing past states of being.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

existed

This is the simple past tense, providing a more concise way to express the same idea.

was in existence

This alternative uses a noun phrase to convey the state of existing.

had existed

This uses the past perfect tense, suggesting existence prior to another point in the past.

used to exist

This implies a past existence that is no longer the case.

was present

This highlights the presence of something at a specific time.

could be found

This focuses on the ability to locate or discover something.

was living

This suggests a state of being alive or actively functioning.

was around

This is an informal way of saying something was present or available.

occurred

This indicates that something took place or happened.

was happening

This emphasizes the process or event of something taking place.

FAQs

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

You can use "was existing" to describe a state of being in the past, for example, "The old building was existing long before the city was founded."

What are some alternatives to "was existing"?

Some alternatives include "existed", "was in existence", or "had existed", depending on the context.

Which is correct, "was existing" or "existed"?

Both "was existing" and "existed" are grammatically correct, but "existed" is often more concise and preferred in most contexts.

What is the difference between "was existing" and "used to exist"?

"Was existing" describes a state of being in the past, while "used to exist" implies that something existed in the past but no longer does.