was planning to

USAGE SUMMARY

"was planning to" is correct and usable in written English.
This phrase is commonly used to express future intent or intention. For example: "I was planning to go to the store, but then I remembered I was out of cash."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Mr. Lapidus was planning to propose.

The New York Times

I was planning to live there forever.

The New Yorker

I was planning to call myself Gifford.

Independent

He was planning to become a diplomat.

The New York Times - Arts

She was planning to quit, Lena said.

The New York Times - Magazine

I think she was planning to stay".

The New York Times

He was planning to become an anesthesiologist.

The New Yorker

But Cook was planning to do likewise.

The Guardian - Sport

He was planning to play in Turkey.

The Guardian - Sport

Nobody was planning to shop you.

The Guardian - Opinion

No, he was planning to dive.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was planning to" to clearly indicate an intention or plan that existed in the past, whether or not it was ultimately carried out. For instance, "She was planning to travel to Europe, but then the pandemic started."

Common error

Avoid using "was planning to" when referring to current or future plans. Use "is planning to" or "are planning to" for present intentions, and "will be planning to" for future ones.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was planning to" functions as a verbal phrase indicating a past intention or a course of action that someone considered taking. Ludwig AI confirms that this usage is correct and frequent in English writing.

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, "was planning to" is a commonly used phrase to express past intentions or anticipated actions. Ludwig AI confirms its correct grammatical usage and widespread presence in various contexts, primarily in news and media. When writing, ensure the tense aligns with the timeframe you're referencing; "was planning to" indicates a past plan, not a current one. Alternatives such as "intended to" or "was going to" can be used for subtle variations in emphasis or formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intended to

This alternative focuses on the intention behind the action.

meant to

This option suggests a prior decision or arrangement.

had intended to

Emphasizes the prior nature of the intention, which may or may not have been fulfilled.

was going to

More informal and conversational way to express a future plan.

had set out to

Suggests a specific goal or objective that was aimed for.

aimed to

Focuses on the goal-oriented nature of the plan.

sought to

More formal way of expressing an attempt or endeavor.

looked forward to

Highlights anticipation and positive expectation related to the planned action.

envisioned doing

Implies a mental image or anticipated scenario.

contemplated

Suggests a period of thought and consideration before deciding on the plan.

FAQs

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

"Was planning to" is used to describe an intention or plan that someone had in the past. For example: "I "was planning to go" to the party, but I got sick."

What are some alternatives to "was planning to"?

You can use alternatives such as "intended to", "meant to", or "was going to" depending on the context.

What is the difference between "was planning to" and "is planning to"?

"Was planning to" refers to a past intention, while "is planning to" refers to a current intention. "He "was planning to move" last year" (past), versus "He "is planning to move" next year" (present).

Is it correct to say "I am planning to went" instead of "I was planning to go"?

No, "I am planning to went" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "I "was planning to go"". The past continuous tense ("was planning") should be followed by the base form of the verb ("go").