I believed to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I believed to" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used incorrectly; the correct form would be "I believed that" or "I believed in." Example: "I believed that he would come to the party."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"As the fabric of the American Nation is EMBEDDED with racism, I merely made a raCIALly driven joke to counter what i believed to be real, raCIST rhetoric.

The Guardian - Music

But O'Malley I believed to be honest".

The New York Times

We were being targeted from what I believed to be three shooters at close range.

The New York Times

It took more than 10 years to find what I believed to be the right place.

The New York Times

"Everything I said in my statement I believed to be the absolute truth.

The New York Times

"I would never work with someone I believed to be homophobic.

Independent

In playing the Anthem early, I did what I believed to be the right thing.

The Washington Post

"What I was saying was what I believed to be the campaign's position," he said.

The New York Times

I knew everything they did if not more, I loved school, I loved what I believed to be my home.

University of California, Berkeley

"I have never, in response to any of that, modified a policy I believed to be right or modified a position I believed to be right and I don't intend to now.

The Guardian

Diamond said: "My motivation has always been to do what I believed to be in the best interests of Barclays.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "I believed that" or "I believed in" instead of "I believed to" for grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid omitting the word "that" after "believed" when introducing a clause. Also, be mindful of using the correct preposition, such as "in" when referring to believing in something.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I believed to" is grammatically incorrect and not recognized as a standard construction in English. The correct forms are typically "I believed that" or "I believed in". According to Ludwig, this phrase is not correct.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I believed to" is grammatically incorrect in standard English. As Ludwig AI indicates, the correct forms are "I believed that" or "I believed in", depending on the intended meaning. Because of its grammatical incorrectness, it's not appropriate for use in any context. Instead, consider using phrases like "I thought that", "I was under the impression that", or "I had the conviction that" to express your beliefs accurately and effectively. Remember to always prioritize grammatical correctness to ensure clear communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I believed that

Adding "that" creates a grammatically correct clause expressing a belief.

I thought that

A more common and grammatically sound way to express a belief or opinion.

I was under the impression that

More formal alternative expressing a belief, often implying it might be incorrect.

I was of the opinion that

A formal way to express a personal belief or judgment.

It was my understanding that

Expresses belief based on received information or interpretation.

I had the conviction that

Emphasizes a strong, firmly held belief.

I presumed that

Expresses a belief formed without concrete proof.

I took it for granted that

Expresses a belief that was assumed to be true without questioning.

I considered it to be

Emphasizes a thoughtful assessment leading to a particular belief.

I held the belief that

A formal and slightly emphatic way to express holding a particular belief.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use "I believed" in a sentence?

The correct way to use "I believed" is to follow it with "that" to introduce a clause (e.g., "I believed that he was honest") or with "in" when referring to faith or trust (e.g., "I believed in his ability").

Is "I believed to" grammatically correct?

No, "I believed to" is grammatically incorrect. You should use "I believed that" or "I believed in" instead.

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

Instead of "I believed to", you can use alternatives like "I thought that", "I believed that", or "I was under the impression that" depending on the context.

What is the difference between "I believed that" and "I believed in"?

"I believed that" introduces a clause expressing a belief or opinion (e.g., "I believed that the project would succeed"). "I believed in" expresses faith or trust in something or someone (e.g., "I believed in his honesty").