I believed him

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I believed him" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it when you accept or trust someone's statement or opinion. For example: "He told me that his test results were negative, and I believed him."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

I believed him.

The New York Times

"I believed him," Rubenstein says.

The New Yorker

I believed him then.

The Guardian - Opinion

so i believed him.

The Guardian - Music

"I believed him," Ms. Cho said.

The New York Times

"I believed him," Mr. Weisel said.

The New York Times

At that moment I believed him.

The Guardian - Opinion

But that's a kill!" I believed him.

The Guardian

"I believed him, 100%," Trump said.

The Guardian

"I believed him," she said years ago.

The New York Times - Arts

"I'm not sure if I believed him".

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I believed him" to clearly express your acceptance of someone's statement as truthful, avoiding ambiguity in your communication. It provides a straightforward way to convey your trust or conviction in the person's words.

Common error

While "I believed him" is clear, avoid overuse. Vary your language by using synonyms like "I trusted him" or "I took his word for it" to maintain reader engagement and prevent monotony in your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I believed him" primarily functions as a declarative statement. It asserts the speaker's past acceptance or conviction regarding someone else's statement or claim. As Ludwig AI suggests, it is a common and grammatically sound construction.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I believed him" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to indicate trust or acceptance of someone's statement in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase follows standard grammatical rules and is suitable for use in various contexts. The phrase is most frequently encountered in news and media sources, and several authoritative sources are available. While the phrase is simple, it's important to avoid overuse and to consider alternative expressions such as "I trusted him" or "I took his word for it" for stylistic variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I thought he was telling the truth

Explicitly states the belief in the person's honesty.

I took his word for it

Emphasizes acceptance of his statement without further questioning.

I took him at his word

Stresses the importance of honoring someone's commitment.

I trusted his statement

Highlights the aspect of trust in the person's communication.

His words rang true to me

Indicates that the statement felt genuine and authentic.

I accepted what he said

Focuses on the act of accepting the information provided.

I had faith in his words

Conveys a strong sense of trust and conviction.

I bought his explanation

Suggests that the explanation was convincing.

I fell for his story

Implies a degree of deception or naivety in believing.

I was convinced by him

Highlights that the speaker was swayed by the other person.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "I believed him"?

You can use alternatives like "I trusted him", "I took his word for it", or "I accepted what he said" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "I believed into him" instead of "I believed him"?

No, the correct phrasing is "I believed him". The preposition "into" is not needed and changes the meaning of the sentence.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "I believed him"?

The phrase is appropriate when you want to express that you accepted someone's statement or explanation as true at a particular time. For example, "He said he was innocent, and "I believed him"".

What's the difference between "I believed him" and "I trust him"?

""I believed him"" refers to a past event or statement that you accepted as true. "I trust him" indicates a current or ongoing sense of confidence in someone's character or reliability.