was intending to

USAGE SUMMARY

'was intending to' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to say that you had a plan to do something in the past. For example: I was intending to take the bus to work, but then my car wouldn't start.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"He was intending to assassinate the speaker," Mr. Helmi said.

The New York Times

In college, I was intending to be a math teacher.

The New York Times

He was intending to enter the field of aviation.

The New Yorker

Perhaps Trump was intending to sound like Kim.

The New Yorker

Princip was intending to strike a blow for Serbian independence.

The Guardian - Opinion

Indeed, National Nurses United, the conference's sponsor, was intending to support Sanders until the nomination vote.

The Washington Post

Clearly, Google was intending to break the control that companies like Verizon and A.T.&T.

The New Yorker

It was not clear whether he misspoke or was intending to be contentious.

The New York Times

The prosecution says they were there because she was intending to put them on.

Independent

I was intending to eat it off an Indian girl in Durban".

The New York Times

She said that she was intending to buy a "signed first edition" for her granddaughter.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was intending to" when specifying a past plan that may or may not have been fulfilled. It adds a nuance of unfulfilled intention.

Common error

Avoid using "was intending to" for present or future intentions. Use "am intending to" or "intend to" for current plans.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was intending to" functions as a past progressive form of intention, expressing a plan or aim that existed at some point in the past. As indicated by Ludwig, it signifies a past action that was contemplated or planned.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

10%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Science

10%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was intending to" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to express a past intention or plan. Ludwig confirms its validity and usability. It is most commonly found in News & Media and academic contexts and maintains a neutral register suitable for various writing styles. When writing, remember to use it for past intentions and consider alternatives like "planned to" for conciseness. Avoid using it for present or future plans. The phrase helps convey a sense of purpose or direction that existed in the past.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

planned to

This alternative offers a more concise way to express a past intention.

was going to

A common and slightly less formal way to express a past intention.

meant to

This phrase indicates a prior intention or design.

had planned on

This suggests a deliberate prior arrangement.

had in mind to

This expresses a preliminary idea or intention.

considered

Implies a past contemplation of a certain action.

envisioned

This alternative suggests a mental image of the intended action.

contemplated

This verb highlights the act of thoughtful planning.

thought about

Indicates a previous consideration, not necessarily a firm plan.

proposed to

Suggests a formal declaration of intention.

FAQs

How can I use "was intending to" in a sentence?

You can use "was intending to" to express a past intention, for example: "I was intending to go to the store, but I got caught up with work."

What's a more concise alternative to "was intending to"?

A more concise alternative is "planned to", which conveys the same meaning. For example: "I planned to go to the store."

When should I use "was intending to" instead of "was going to"?

While both express past intentions, "was intending to" often implies a more deliberate plan, whereas "was going to" can be more casual or spontaneous.

Is "was intending to" formal or informal?

"Was intending to" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, more formal options like "had planned on" might be preferred in very formal writing.