I was in a meeting vs I was in the meeting

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in slightly different contexts. 'I was in a meeting' is more general and can refer to any meeting, while 'I was in the meeting' is more specific and refers to a particular meeting that has been previously mentioned or is known to both the speaker and the listener.

Last updated: March 31, 2024 • 1179 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"I was in a meeting"

This phrase is a general statement indicating that the speaker was present at a meeting without specifying which meeting it was.

Examples:

I was in a meeting all morning.
She couldn't attend because she was in a meeting.
Were you in a meeting when the decision was made?

Show examples from the web [+]
Last updated: November 25, 2024

Jan 3, 2016 ... What's correct? a) I was in a meeting. b) I was at a meeting. I saw uses in both of them, but I' ...
Jan 3, 2020 ... "Sorry I missed your call, I was in a meeting." is usually me saying, "I deliberately ignored you calling me because I have zero desire to speak to you in ...
Mar 17, 2015 ... Why? 2 · I was in a meeting vs I was at a meeting · 0 · Should it be "still in" or " still at" in the following? 100 · Should I say "She is in ...
May 2, 2023 ... I was in a meeting about a dispute my company is having with Comcast and I straight faced without a hint of comedy said "yeah, this sounds similar to Spectrum ...
May 24, 2022 ... For example, “I missed your Zoom call because I was in a meeting.” This example lets us know that you were participating in the activity of ...
Oct 7, 2024 ... I was in a meeting with team member who requested some time off. She went on to explain why - with a promise to make up her hours.
Dec 8, 2022 ... Yesterday I was in a meeting with this man, wearing this shirt with this painting behind him. As you can imagine, I had to interrupt the ...
Sep 11, 2024 ... I was in a meeting with Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn at that time, along with five other people. I think the topic was education. (President ...
Oct 21, 2024 ... I was in a meeting last week in which there was much criticism of B Corp. The feeling was that it is too often used as a smokescreen for ...

Alternatives:

I attended a meeting.
I participated in a meeting.
I had a meeting.
I joined a meeting.
I sat in on a meeting.

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"I was in the meeting"

This phrase is more specific and refers to a particular meeting that has been previously mentioned or is known to both the speaker and the listener.

Examples:

I was in the meeting when the decision was made.
She was in the meeting with the clients.
Were you in the meeting when the presentation started?

Show examples from the web [+]

I was in the meeting when we decided she should be one.
I was in the meeting with Jan and she did said that it could be this branch that gets the axe.
I wasn't in the meeting.
I was there in January meeting the state government, inspecting the devastation after the earthquake a year before and trying to accelerate our reconstruction activities.
I was in a meeting when the accident happened.
In the course of the process, as shadow rapporteur, I tried to influence the final report on those occasions when I was permitted to participate in the meetings.
This is not exactly what I was talking about in the meeting, is it?
I was recently in the Caribbean, meeting small farmers with tiny farms who cannot survive without access to the EU markets.
Therefore, I was in the Group meeting and, as soon as I saw on the screen that Commissioner Potočnik was starting, I came running over and arrived at the very second when he began.
And I don't appreciate you telling me that I'm not as good as you when the only reason I was in that meeting in the first place was to cover for you.
I was at the meeting yesterday.
I was present at the meeting and broached this issue with the ministers who, following the meeting, voted for a resolution favourable to the Commission's initiative.
I was just so excited when I got the meeting.
I only heard about the meeting this morning when I was picking up my breakfast.
You knew who I was when you requested the meeting.
All right, I was late for the meeting.
I was detained by the meeting and missed the plane.
Yes, oddly I was told the meeting began at 10:30.
The meeting was so long, I was worried.
At the meeting in Barbados I was one of those who drafted the resolution adopted on water in developing economies.

Alternatives:

I attended the meeting.
I participated in the meeting.
I was present at the meeting.
I joined the meeting.
I sat in on the meeting.

How TextRanch works

Fast and reliable proofreading, editing, and language advice tailored to your needs.

1. Choose Your Service

Quick Text Editing

Emails and short texts
Proofreading & editing
Ready in 5-10 minutes

SUBMIT YOUR TEXT NOW

Document Editing

Documents of any type (*.docx)
Advanced & Premium editing
Ready in as little as 4 hours

UPLOAD YOUR DOCUMENT

Ask an Editor

Personalized answers to your language questions
Expert guidance on grammar, style, and usage
Ready in 24 hours

ASK YOUR QUESTION

Upload your document or paste your text directly into our platform. Your text is reviewed and refined by our expert editors (real people, not machines) who understand the nuances of English. Expect corrections, improvements, and insightful suggestions that enhance the clarity, tone, and professionalism of your writing.

3. Receive Your Polished Text

In just a few minutes (or hours for longer documents), you'll receive your corrected text. Review the changes, make any final adjustments, and confidently share your polished English with the world.
You can count on a personalized, friendly service every time you use TextRanch. We're committed to helping you make a great impression with every word you write.

We proofread and edit these types of texts and documents:

Short texts Business Emails Personal Emails Social media posts Resume and Curriculum Vitae Business documents Sales proposal Research and academic papers Thesis Dissertation Essays Articles Blog posts and much more....

Our Customers Love Us!

We have an average rating of 4.79 stars based on 283125 votes, and

4.9 Excellent - Reviews 2.137

"7 years without any disappointment. Always 100% satisfied. You guys are the best in the world at what you do. Thank you so much :)"

Zubair
from Bangladesh

"I wasn't aware of this service, it's fascinating and more reliable than standard IA tools available on the internet"

Arturo
from Mexico

"In a world of text messages and online communication, this is great to have as a live tool. Thank you."

Selena
from USA

"Wow, it's just so excellent. I never would have believed I could have a sure and excellent English companion. Thanks, TextRanch."

Ifiok
from Nigeria

"This is my first time using TextRanch, and I like how the editors take time to correct my text. To everyone who has never used TextRanch before, I highly recommend trying it."

Wilson
from France

"It is an amazing source of feedback because, as a non-native speaker, I really need to have a reliable helper correct my text."

Susan
from Germany

I was in a meeting vs I was in the meeting

"I was in a meeting"

"I was in the meeting"

Related Comparisons

2. Submit Your Text

3. Receive Your Polished Text