I generally thought

USAGE SUMMARY

"I generally thought" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it when you want to express an idea that you have formed in the past. For example: "I generally thought it was a good idea to plan ahead and save for retirement, but now I realize I should have started much sooner."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

"I asked good friends, friends of friends and people I generally thought were doing cool things for song recommendations," he says.

The New York Times

"I generally thought that HIV/AIDS was a problem solved, at least in the U.S.," said Biagiotti, who directed and produced the film.

Columbia University

Top Gear is more than a money‑spinner for BBC2; the truth of it is, whatever you thought of the Gearists, and I generally thought they were jerks, this was populism done so popular that it lifted the whole channel.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

I generally thought that the whole event was a good laugh.

BBC

"When I read Andrew, I generally thought he was dedicated to the work of being honest," Coates wrote.

Huffington Post

Growing up in the South, I generally thought of ice cream as a seasonal treat, only later to realize my assumption would strike a New Englander as blasphemy.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Comparing his political philosophy to Mr. Spitzer's: I generally think that I have about the same general point of view.

The New York Times

"I generally think this airport should expand, because of demand".

The New York Times

"So I generally think whatever feels nice, it's probably right".

The Guardian - Film

Lux Alptraum, writer and comedian I generally think everyone ought to read as much Margaret Atwood as possible.

The Guardian - Books

Any sense of why they gave you the job? A. I generally think, especially early in a career, what distinguishes leaders oftentimes is whether they paint a picture.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When employing "I generally thought", ensure the subsequent clause logically follows and presents a contrasting or clarifying perspective.

Common error

Avoid shifting tenses inconsistently after using "I generally thought". Ensure the following verbs remain in the past tense to maintain clarity and grammatical correctness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I generally thought" functions as a clause opener, introducing a statement of past belief or assumption. As noted by Ludwig AI, it's a correct and usable phrase for expressing an idea formed in the past. Examples in the search results demonstrate its use in conveying prior perspectives that have since changed or been nuanced.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "I generally thought" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase for expressing past beliefs or assumptions, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. While not overly common, it appears primarily in news and media contexts, serving to introduce a viewpoint that has since evolved or been clarified. Related phrases, such as "I used to think" or "I initially presumed", offer similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis. When writing with this phrase, it's important to maintain consistent tense and ensure the subsequent clause provides a logical contrast or explanation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I used to think

Replaces "generally thought" with the more straightforward "used to think", denoting a past belief.

I typically assumed

Replaces "generally thought" with "typically assumed", indicating a common assumption in the past.

I commonly believed

Substitutes "generally thought" with "commonly believed", highlighting a past belief held by the speaker.

I usually figured

Uses "usually figured" instead of "generally thought", suggesting a habitual estimation in the past.

I often imagined

Replaces "generally thought" with "often imagined", emphasizing a past inclination to visualize or conceive something.

I had always considered

Changes "generally thought" to "had always considered", stressing a continuous consideration over time.

My initial impression was

Focuses on the first thought, changing "generally thought" to "initial impression was".

I initially presumed

Emphasizes a beginning assumption, changing "generally thought" to "initially presumed".

I once supposed

Indicates a past supposition, changing "generally thought" to "once supposed".

I had a general idea

Rephrases the sentence to emphasize having an idea, changing "generally thought" to "had a general idea".

FAQs

How can I use "I generally thought" in a sentence?

You can use "I generally thought" to introduce a past belief or assumption that you now know to be different, such as "I generally thought /s/working+remotely would be isolating, but it's actually quite collaborative".

What's a good alternative to "I generally thought"?

Alternatives include /s/i+used+to+think, "I commonly believed", or "I initially presumed", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "I generally think" instead of "I generally thought"?

While both are grammatically correct, "I generally think" refers to a current belief, while "I generally thought" refers to a belief held in the past.

What is the difference between "I generally thought" and "/s/i+assumed"?

"I generally thought" suggests a more considered, though perhaps still inaccurate, viewpoint. "I assumed" simply indicates an unverified idea.