Used and loved by millions

Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

I'd always assumed
Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

Alternative expressions(12)

I had always assumed

I previously believed

I used to think

I was under the impression that

I had always believed

I formerly believed

I once thought

I always thought

I rather assumed

I kind of thought

I genuinely believed

I've ever thought

Table of contents

Usage summary

Human-verified examples

Expert writing tips

Linguistic context

Ludwig's wrap-up

Alternative expressions

FAQs

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But I'd always assumed men liked them.

News & Media

Independent

I'd always assumed that the French concurred.

News & Media

The New York Times - Magazine

"I'd always assumed we'd build the network around them".

News & Media

The New Yorker

I'd always assumed I'd see them grow up.

News & Media

The Guardian

I'd always assumed the author spent his mornings writing and his afternoons mending trawl nets.

News & Media

The New York Times - Books

I'd always assumed Eddie was a professional trainer whose work spilled over into his private life.

News & Media

The Guardian - Opinion

I'd always assumed they were lying, but it turns out to be true.

News & Media

The Guardian

And I'd always assumed an infected mattress was obvious — swarming with those little critters.

News & Media

The New York Times

So I'd always assumed I would die early too; that I wouldn't make 70.

News & Media

The Guardian

This much I get: It's not about emptying the mind, which is what I'd always assumed.

News & Media

The New York Times - Magazine

I'd always assumed off-road riding required more bravado than technique; this drill proved the opposite.

News & Media

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I'd always assumed" when you want to establish a 'before' and 'after' narrative. It is most effective when followed by a conjunction like 'but' or 'until' to introduce a new discovery.

Common error

Do not confuse the past perfect 'I'd' (I had) with the conditional 'I'd' (I would) in this context. While "I'd always assumed" refers to a past belief, 'I would always assume' refers to a habitual action. Always ensure the verb 'assumed' remains in the past participle form.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

96%

Authority and reliability

4.9/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I'd always assumed" functions as a past perfect declarative clause. It combines the subject 'I' with the auxiliary 'had' (contracted to 'd'), the frequency adverb 'always', and the past participle 'assumed'. As noted in Ludwig, this structure is used to describe a state of mind that existed prior to another past event or revelation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

Less common in

Wiki

Social Media

Reference

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "I'd always assumed" is a robust and widely used phrase in the English language, particularly within high-quality journalistic circles. Ludwig AI data confirms that it serves as a critical linguistic marker for a change in perspective. Whether you are correcting a personal misconception or reporting on a scientific discovery that defies previous expectations, this phrase allows you to establish a clear temporal sequence. While synonyms like "I had always thought" are available, "I'd always assumed" carries a specific nuance of an untested belief that has finally been put to the test.

More alternative expressions(10)

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I had always thought

Uses a more general verb of cognition rather than one implying a lack of evidence.

I had always supposed

Implies a slightly more tentative or speculative previous belief.

I had always presumed

Presumed often suggests a more formal or logically based initial inference.

I had always taken for granted

Emphasizes that the belief was so deeply held it was never questioned.

It was always my impression that

More formal and shifts the focus from the act of assuming to the state of the belief.

I long believed

Uses simple past with an adverb, focusing on the duration of the belief.

My long-held assumption was

Turns the action into a noun phrase, making it suitable for academic or formal contexts.

I had always figured

More informal and colloquial than assumed.

I had always imagined

Suggests the previous belief had a creative or mental imagery component.

I had always expected

Focuses on the anticipation of a specific outcome rather than a general fact.

FAQs

How do I use "I'd always assumed" in a sentence?

You can use it to introduce a past belief that was later corrected, for example: "I'd always assumed that the museum was free, but I found out there's a suggested donation."

What is the difference between "I'd always assumed" and "I had always assumed"?

There is no difference in meaning; "I'd always assumed" is simply the contracted version of "I had always assumed", making it more common in speech and neutral writing.

Is "I'd always assumed" formal?

It is considered neutral. While it appears frequently in reputable news sources like The New York Times, in very formal academic papers, you might prefer the uncontracted "I had always assumed" or "my long-held assumption was".

What can I say instead of "I'd always assumed"?

Depending on the context, you could use "I had always thought", "I had always supposed", or "I had taken for granted".

Editing plus AI, all in one place.

Stop switching between tools. Your AI writing partner for everything—polishing proposals, crafting emails, finding the right tone.

Continue with Googlefor free

Continue with emailfor free

Table of contents

Usage summary

Human-verified examples

Expert writing tips

Linguistic context

Ludwig's wrap-up

Alternative expressions

FAQs

Source & Trust

96%

Authority and reliability

4.9/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences:

1-200 1k 2k 3k 4k 5k 7k 10k 20k 40k 100k 200k 500k 0m-3 0m-4 1m-1 1m-2 1m-3 1m-4

I'd always assumedGrammar usage guide and real-world examples

I'd always assumed
Grammar usage guide and real-world examples