I thought certainly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I thought certainly" is not correct and sounds awkward in written English.
It can be used when expressing a strong belief or assumption about something, but it would be better to rephrase it for clarity. Example: "I thought certainly that he would show up on time."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"I thought, certainly a technique could be developed to do that more accurately," he said.

The New York Times - Science

"Fascinatingly they made it clear that they would 'not require' the Smiths' bass player or drummer," he said, "which I thought certainly said something".

The Guardian - Music

"I thought, 'Certainly a modern woman who knows very well that flying is safer than driving a car should be able to overcome her fear and fly with serenity.' " And she has, thanks to the strategies she developed and reveals in her new book, "Safe Journey: Prayers and Comfort for Frightened Fliers and Other Anxious Souls," to be published this month.

The New York Times - Travel

"I thought certainly in the first half our support on our runners was slow, mixed with their good work in the jackal area.

BBC

I thought certainly we can't beat a designer, but we can surely automate it, put it on the web and make it free (at least some of it for free) or charge a small amount of money and we could have a decent business out of it or at least a pretty popular website.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

I think certainly there has been a lot of improvement.

The Guardian - Sport

"Didn't we try that last year?" He added: "I think certainly that's a possibility.

The New York Times - Sports

I think certainly in my head they're very separate things," he said.

Independent

ADAM GOPNIK: Writing doesn't come easily to anyone, I think, certainly not to me.

The New Yorker

"For the attorney general to have such a high number as an unannounced candidate, I think certainly is pretty impressive".

The New York Times

"I think certainly the Open championship, finishing fourth there, skewed things for me in terms of my expectations," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "I thought certainly" in formal writing. Opt for clearer and more common alternatives like "I certainly thought" or "I was sure that".

Common error

Don't combine "thought" and "certainly" in this order. This construction often sounds unnatural. Instead, consider rephrasing to "I certainly thought" or using stronger verbs like "believe" or "assume" to express your certainty more effectively.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I thought certainly" functions as an introductory clause expressing a belief or assumption. However, Ludwig AI indicates that the phrasing is awkward, suggesting a reordering or substitution for improved clarity.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Unknown

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "I thought certainly" is understandable, it's considered grammatically awkward and is not recommended for formal writing. Ludwig AI analysis suggests rephrasing for improved clarity and flow. More natural alternatives include "I certainly thought", "I was sure that", or "I definitely thought". Its primary contexts are news and media, with limited usage in other areas. For professional writing, opting for stronger verbs and clearer phrasing is advisable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I certainly thought

Reorders the words to improve flow and sound more natural.

I definitely thought

Replaces "certainly" with "definitely" for emphasis and better flow.

I really thought

Uses "really" to emphasize the thought or belief.

I truly thought

Emphasizes the sincerity of the thought.

I firmly believed

Conveys a strong conviction or belief.

I was certain that

Expresses a state of certainty about something.

I was sure that

Indicates a feeling of confidence about something.

I had no doubt that

Highlights the absence of doubt in one's belief.

I believed without question

Underscores a belief held without any reservations.

I confidently assumed

Expresses an assumption made with confidence.

FAQs

What is a more natural way to say "I thought certainly"?

You can rephrase it as "I certainly thought", "I was sure that", or "I definitely thought" for a more natural and grammatically sound expression.

Is "I thought certainly" grammatically correct?

While understandable, "I thought certainly" is considered awkward and not the best grammatical choice. It's better to use phrases like "I certainly thought" or "I was certain".

What alternatives can I use instead of "I thought certainly"?

Consider using alternatives like "I certainly thought", "I was sure that", or "I definitely thought" depending on the context.

How does the meaning change if I use "I certainly thought" instead of "I thought certainly"?

The meaning remains largely the same, but "I certainly thought" improves the flow and clarity of the sentence, making it a more grammatically sound and natural choice compared to "I thought certainly".