I sincerely believed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I sincerely believed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing a strong conviction or faith in something that you thought to be true in the past. Example: "At that moment, I sincerely believed that everything would turn out fine."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

I sincerely believed that I had chosen to immigrate to a country whose government cared about its citizens, or at least had to answer to them.

The New Yorker

Until the age of twelve I sincerely believed that everybody had a house on Fifth Avenue, a villa in Newport and a steam-driven, ocean-going yacht.

Forbes

Like the young women who are targeted to make the journey to Isis-controlled territory, I sincerely believed in my faith, in the innate way it seems to call for justice and equality and for collective social responsibility.

BBC

In spite of my deepest fears, I sincerely believed that economic success was within my reach.

Huffington Post

I've spent most of my adult life as a binge-drinking substance abuser, and I quit drinking in October, something I sincerely believed I would never be able to do.

Vice

I sincerely believed that as the match progressed, the longer it went, I had maybe the physical edge and that I, also being in these situations on a big stage in the semifinals, maybe that experience could give me a little bit more confidence".

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

I sincerely believe that".

The New Yorker

But I sincerely believe that we were that close".

The New York Times - Arts

"I sincerely believe this bothered a lot of people.

The Guardian

He continued, "I sincerely believe that demographics does not determine destiny.

The New Yorker

I hope, and I sincerely believe, that the Gloucester crowd will see a different team this weekend".

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I sincerely believed" when you want to emphasize the genuine and honest nature of your past conviction, particularly when that belief has since changed or been proven incorrect.

Common error

Avoid using "sincerely" excessively in your writing. While it emphasizes honesty, overuse can make your writing sound repetitive or insincere. Vary your language by using alternatives like "truly", "genuinely", or simply stating your belief directly.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I sincerely believed" functions as a statement of past conviction. It asserts a prior belief held with genuine honesty and conviction. Ludwig AI indicates this phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "I sincerely believed" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase to express a genuine past belief. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, and its primary function is to convey a prior conviction, often in contexts where that belief has since changed. While generally neutral in tone, varying your phrasing can add nuance and prevent overuse. It's most frequently found in news and media, indicating its suitability for clear and direct communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I truly believed

Replaces "sincerely" with "truly", emphasizing the genuine nature of the belief.

I genuinely believed

Substitutes "sincerely" with "genuinely", highlighting the authenticity of the belief.

I honestly believed

Replaces "sincerely" with "honestly", focusing on the sincerity and truthfulness of the belief.

I firmly believed

Changes "sincerely" to "firmly", stressing the strength and conviction of the belief.

I really believed

Uses "really" instead of "sincerely" to convey the intensity of the belief.

I was convinced

Replaces the entire phrase to focus on the state of being convinced, implying a strong belief.

I had no doubt that

Expresses a lack of uncertainty, indicating a strong belief in something.

I was under the impression that

Indicates a belief based on an understanding or perception of something.

It was my understanding that

Highlights that the belief was based on a specific understanding of the situation.

I had always thought that

Implies a long-held belief or assumption about something.

FAQs

What does "I sincerely believed" mean?

The phrase "I sincerely believed" expresses a genuine and honest conviction that one held in the past. It emphasizes the sincerity of the belief at the time it was held.

How to use "I sincerely believed" in a sentence?

You can use "I sincerely believed" when describing a past belief, often one that has changed. For example: "At the time, "I sincerely believed" that hard work always led to success."

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

You can use alternatives like "I truly believed", "I genuinely believed", or "I honestly believed" depending on the context.

Is "I sincerely believed" formal or informal?

The phrase "I sincerely believed" is generally considered neutral in terms of formality. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though more formal settings might prefer a slightly different phrasing, such as "I was firmly of the belief that."