was probably doing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was probably doing" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to express a past action that was likely occurring at a specific time. Example: "At 8 PM, she was probably doing her homework." Alternative expressions include "was likely doing" and "was possibly doing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

"I was probably doing too much," said Brown, 38.

The New York Times - Sports

"Realistically, he was probably doing what everybody else was doing," Mr. Nichols said.

The New York Times

"My brain was probably doing it to protect me," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

It dawned on me that he was probably doing it for a reason and he's done it to others.

The Guardian - Sport

But I hated what football was doing to so many people around me, and I hated what it was probably doing to me.

The New York Times - Sports

As the FAA was being enacted in mid-2008, Professor Balkin explained that "Congress is now giving the President the authority to do much of what he was probably doing (illegally) before".

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

The damage was probably done, however.

The New York Times - Magazine

It was probably done by a secretly malfunctioning robot.

The Guardian - Film

If corpses had to be moved, or videotape destroyed, it was probably done years ago.

The New Yorker

At the time, he sent signals that he was probably done for good.

The New York Times - Sports

Kittles (sore right knee) was vague about his plans, but Marbury said he was probably done.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was probably doing" to indicate a reasonable inference about an action in the past when direct evidence is lacking. This adds nuance and avoids definitive statements.

Common error

Avoid using "was probably doing" when you have concrete evidence of the action. In such cases, a more direct and certain statement is more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was probably doing" functions as a verb phrase expressing an action that was likely in progress in the past. It combines the past continuous tense ("was doing") with an adverb of probability ("probably"). This construction allows for conveying an inference or educated guess rather than a definitive statement. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was probably doing" serves as a useful tool for expressing speculation or a reasoned guess about a past action. As validated by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically sound and commonly found in neutral contexts, particularly in news and media. While alternatives like "was likely doing" offer similar meanings, understanding the subtle differences in certainty and formality is key to effective communication. When employing "was probably doing", remember to avoid overstating certainty and ensure it aligns with the available evidence. It has a score of 4.5.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was likely doing

Replaces "probably" with "likely", indicating a similar degree of probability.

was possibly doing

Substitutes "probably" with "possibly", suggesting a lower degree of certainty.

was perhaps doing

Uses "perhaps" instead of "probably", offering a slightly more formal tone.

was presumably doing

Employs "presumably", implying the action was a reasonable assumption based on evidence.

was expected to be doing

Indicates an anticipated or predicted action in the past.

might have been doing

Uses "might have been" to express a possibility with less certainty.

could have been doing

Suggests a potential action, emphasizing the possibility rather than the probability.

would likely be doing

Shifts the focus to a hypothetical situation in the past.

was in the process of doing

Focuses on the ongoing nature of the action, rather than the probability.

was engaged in doing

Describes the action as something the subject was actively involved in.

FAQs

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

The phrase "was probably doing" is used to express an action that someone was likely performing in the past. For example: "At that hour, she "was probably doing" her homework".

What are some alternatives to "was probably doing"?

You can use alternatives such as "was likely doing", "was possibly doing", or "might have been doing" depending on the degree of certainty you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "was probably doing"?

Yes, "was probably doing" is grammatically correct and commonly used to express a likely action in the past. Its correctness is also confirmed by Ludwig AI.

What's the difference between "was probably doing" and "was certainly doing"?

"Was probably doing" indicates a degree of uncertainty or inference, while "was certainly doing" implies a high level of confidence and direct knowledge of the action.