was mentioning

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was mentioning" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to something that someone said in the past, typically in a context where the speaker is recalling a previous conversation or statement. Example: "During our last meeting, she was mentioning the new project timeline and its potential challenges."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

46 human-written examples

I didn't know all the bands she was mentioning.

The New York Times

Not that he was mentioning any names, mind you.

The New Yorker

Not that Low was mentioning Blackburn in the same breath.

The New York Times - Sports

7.48pm: So I was mentioning the nineties, yeah?

The Guardian - Music

The Guardian was mentioning "on-the-ground investigations" as early as 1960.

The Guardian

I was mentioning somebody, and she didn't think they were "edgy".

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

12 human-written examples

Wayward parenting was mentioned.

The New York Times - Sports

Mr. Blau was mentioned.

The New York Times

No price was mentioned.

The New York Times - Tech

No blackened shrimp was mentioned.

The New York Times

"Reform" was mentioned only once.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was mentioning" to describe an action that was in progress in the past when someone made a reference to something, offering a sense of ongoing conversation or thought process.

Common error

Avoid using "was mentioning" when a simple past tense ("mentioned") suffices. Overusing continuous tenses can make your writing sound unnecessarily wordy or awkward.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was mentioning" functions as a past continuous verb phrase, indicating an action (mentioning) that was in progress at a specific time in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a grammatically sound construction used to describe ongoing or incomplete actions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Wiki

7%

Science

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was mentioning" is a grammatically sound and frequently used past continuous verb phrase. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its purpose is to recount a past event where someone made a reference to something. It is commonly found in news and media contexts, and its neutral register makes it suitable for a wide range of writing styles. While "was mentioning" is generally used correctly, be mindful of overuse and ensure it adds value by emphasizing the ongoing nature of the action. Alternatives such as "mentioned", "referred to", and "brought up" can provide more concise options when the continuous aspect is not essential.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mentioned

Concise alternative, omitting the continuous aspect.

was referring to

Emphasizes the act of making a reference.

brought up

Suggests introducing a topic into a conversation.

touched upon

Implies briefly discussing a topic.

made reference to

More formal way of saying "referred to".

alluded to

Suggests an indirect reference.

spoke about

General term for discussing a subject.

talked about

Similar to "spoke about" but slightly more informal.

remarked on

Suggests making a comment or observation.

commented on

Similar to "remarked on" but slightly more neutral.

FAQs

How to use "was mentioning" in a sentence?

Use "was mentioning" to indicate that someone made a brief reference to something during a conversation or discussion, emphasizing the ongoing nature of the communication. For example: "He "was mentioning" the project's potential challenges during the meeting".

What can I say instead of "was mentioning"?

You can use alternatives like "mentioned", "referred to", or "brought up" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. Each alternative offers a slightly different emphasis on the act of referencing something.

Which is correct, "was mentioning" or "mentioned"?

Both ""was mentioning"" and "mentioned" can be correct, but they convey slightly different meanings. "Was mentioning" implies an ongoing action in the past, while "mentioned" simply states that something was referenced at some point.

What's the difference between "was mentioning" and "had mentioned"?

"Was mentioning" describes an action in progress in the past, whereas "had mentioned" describes an action completed before another point in the past. For instance, "He "was mentioning" the budget during the presentation" (it was part of the presentation), versus "He "had mentioned" the budget earlier, so I wasn't surprised" (it was already known).