I thought even

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I thought even" is not correct and lacks clarity in written English.
It may be used in contexts where you want to express surprise or disbelief about something that was expected to be true, but it requires additional context to be meaningful. Example: "I thought even the most experienced players would struggle with that level of difficulty."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

He seemed miserable, I thought — even more gruff than usual.

The New Yorker

It's no secret that, back in 2009, I thought even this was too fast.

The Economist

"I thought, even when we got our first star, we weren't good enough.

Independent

"I thought, even if I do nothing else, this is going to give me something to talk about," he said.

The New Yorker

("I thought even if he jumps badly, he'll still jump well").

The Guardian - Film

I thought: "Even though it's barely breakfast time, this man is engaged in perilous negotiation.

The Guardian - Opinion

Well, that's New Orleans, I thought; even the revered city fathers are a little twisted.

The New Yorker

"I thought even an entertaining bore could be a bore after a while," he told me.

The New York Times - Magazine

This is almost beyond what I thought even he was capable of".

The Guardian

I thought even though this kidney isn't a good match, my brother won't have to go through this.

The New York Times - Magazine

"But, you know, I thought, even if it was unprecedented, so what, you know?" Ms. Palin told Mr. Lauer.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "I thought even", ensure the sentence structure clearly indicates what you are contrasting or emphasizing. Without proper context, it can sound incomplete or grammatically unsound. For instance, "I thought even the experts would struggle" clarifies the unexpected difficulty.

Common error

Avoid using "I thought even" without completing the comparison or specifying what you thought was surprising. Saying "I thought even..." leaves the listener or reader waiting for the rest of your thought, leading to confusion.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "I thought even" relies heavily on the subsequent context to form a complete thought. As Ludwig AI suggests, it often serves to introduce an element of surprise or disbelief, but needs completion to be meaningful and grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

10%

Less common in

Reference

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "I thought even" appears frequently across diverse sources, it often lacks grammatical correctness and clarity without additional context. Ludwig AI emphasizes that this phrase needs proper sentence structure to convey its intended meaning, which typically involves expressing surprise or disbelief. To ensure clarity and grammatical accuracy, consider using alternatives such as "I believed even" or "I imagined even". Always complete your comparisons and be mindful of the intended context to prevent miscommunication. In conclusion, "I thought even" can be a useful phrase if used judiciously and with clear context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I believed even

Emphasizes a conviction or strong belief, differing from a casual thought.

I imagined even

Suggests envisioning something, often implying creativity or speculation, instead of a grounded thought.

I considered even

Implies a more deliberate process of weighing possibilities, not just a passing thought.

I assumed even

Conveys a presumption or expectation, different from a reflective thought.

I figured even

Suggests a conclusion based on reasoning, possibly informal, altering the tone.

I gathered even

Implies collecting information to form an opinion, contrasting with a spontaneous thought.

I suspected even

Indicates a cautious or guarded consideration, unlike a straightforward thought.

I surmised even

Involves drawing a conclusion with limited evidence, distinguishing it from a well-reasoned thought.

I presupposed even

Highlights a prior condition or assumption affecting judgment, setting it apart from a neutral thought.

I postulated even

Introduces a theoretical idea for discussion, which varies from a personal thought.

FAQs

How can I use "I thought even" correctly in a sentence?

To use "I thought even" correctly, ensure you complete the thought with what you found surprising or unexpected. For example, "I thought even with a map, we'd get lost" clarifies the situation.

What phrases can I use instead of "I thought even"?

You can use alternatives like "I believed even", "I imagined even", or "I considered even" depending on the specific context you want to convey.

Is "I thought even" grammatically correct?

According to Ludwig AI, the phrase "I thought even" is not correct and lacks clarity in written English. It requires additional context to be meaningful, such as "I thought even the most experienced players would struggle with that level of difficulty."

What's the difference between "I thought even" and "I just thought"?

"I thought even" implies a degree of surprise or disbelief, suggesting something was unexpected. "I just thought" is a simple statement of having an idea or opinion without necessarily implying surprise.