what I

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the phrase "what I" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when introducing a statement about your thoughts, feelings, or actions. Example: "What I really want is to travel the world." Alternative expressions include "what I mean" and "what I think."

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"What I said is what I said".

The New York Times - Sports

— What? — I looked.

The New Yorker

"What?" I ask.

The New York Times

Precisely what I wanted.

The New York Times - Magazine

"That's what I expect".

The New York Times - Sports

"Write what?" I asked.

The New York Times - Sports

Look what I did!

The New York Times - Travel

+ That's what I understand.

The New York Times

"For what?" I asked.

The New York Times

It's what I say.

The New Yorker

Here's what I recommend.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Employ this phrase to place emphasis on the object of a sentence at the beginning for rhetorical effect, such as "What I need is a coffee" instead of "I need a coffee".

Common error

Avoid using "what I" immediately following a noun it is meant to describe. In standard English, use "<a href="/s/that+I" target="_blank" rel="alternative">that I" or "<a href="/s/which+I" target="_blank" rel="alternative">which I" for this purpose. For example, say "the book that I read", not "the book what I read".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what I" functions as a nominal relative pronoun followed by a subject. In modern English, it allows the speaker to create a clause that acts as a single noun. According to Ludwig AI analysis of various sources, it is frequently used to introduce personal observations, desires, or reported actions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Wiki

7%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "what I" is an indispensable construction in English that facilitates the expression of personal thoughts and actions. Ludwig AI data demonstrates its vast prevalence across diverse domains, from hard news to clinical research. It is most effective when used as a nominal relative clause to simplify sentences or add rhetorical weight. Writers should be careful not to use it as a standard relative pronoun following a noun, a common pitfall that can be avoided by opting for "<a href="/s/that+I" target="_blank" rel="alternative">that I" instead. Overall, it remains one of the most reliable ways to bridge personal agency with clear communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the things I

Replaces the abstract relative pronoun with a concrete plural noun phrase.

specifically what I

Adds precision to indicate a particular subset of a larger idea.

everything I

Adds a sense of totality or completion compared to the neutral version.

all that I

Creates a rhetorical emphasis on the entirety of the object described.

whatever I

Emphasizes a lack of restriction or a more casual, non-specific tone.

that which I

Significantly more formal and somewhat archaic; used for philosophical or legal emphasis.

the actions I

Specifies that the "what" refers specifically to deeds or behaviors.

the information I

Used when the relative clause specifically refers to data or knowledge.

whatsoever I

An emphatic form, often used in negative or conditional contexts.

my

A possessive pronoun that can often replace a "what I" clause if a noun follows (e.g., "what I believe" vs "my belief").

FAQs

How to use "what I" in a sentence?

You can use "what I" as a subject or an object to represent an unnamed thing. For example, "<a href="/s/what+I+saw" target="_blank" rel="alternative">what I saw was incredible" or "He knows <a href="/s/what+I+mean" target="_blank" rel="alternative">what I mean".

What can I say instead of "what I"?

Depending on your sentence, you can use more specific alternatives like "<a href="/s/the+things+I" target="_blank" rel="alternative">the things I", "<a href="/s/that+which+I" target="_blank" rel="alternative">that which I" for formality, or "<a href="/s/everything+I" target="_blank" rel="alternative">everything I" for emphasis.

Which is correct, "what I" or "that I"?

Both are correct but used differently. Use "what I" when there is no preceding noun (e.g., "I saw <a href="/s/what+I+wanted" target="_blank" rel="alternative">what I wanted"). Use "<a href="/s/that+I" target="_blank" rel="alternative">that I" when there is a noun before it (e.g., "The car <a href="/s/that+I+wanted" target="_blank" rel="alternative">that I wanted").

What is the difference between "what I" and "whatever I"?

While "what I" refers to a specific (though unnamed) thing, "<a href="/s/whatever+I" target="_blank" rel="alternative">whatever I" is more open-ended and suggests "anything" or "it doesn't matter what".