I thought going

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I thought going" is not correct as it stands and is incomplete in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you are reflecting on a decision or action related to going somewhere or doing something, but it needs additional context to be grammatically correct. Example: "I thought going to the concert would be a great idea, but I ended up not enjoying it."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

"I thought going in they might do that.

The New York Times - Sports

I thought going out for even a second was taboo.

The New York Times

I thought going on holiday was supposed to be fun.

The Guardian

"I thought going here was important because they are generally very well connected internationally," she said.

The New York Times

"I thought going to zone was a good move by us".

The New York Times - Sports

I thought going into the overtime, we had some really good momentum.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

I thought: Go back.

The New York Times - Magazine

My face got hot and I thought, Go, go, go.

The New Yorker

He focussed on what I thought went well and what I thought didn't.

The New Yorker

"I thought, 'Go back to that one,' " Mr. Hübbe said.

The New York Times - Arts

I thought, go for it.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Complete the phrase with a conjunction and a clause to express the full thought, like, "I thought going to the party would be fun, but it wasn't."

Common error

Avoid using "I thought going" without a completing clause. This leaves the sentence unfinished and unclear. Always follow it with what you thought about going, or what resulted from that thought.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I thought going" functions as an incomplete verb phrase that expresses a past consideration or initial idea. It needs additional context to convey a complete thought. Ludwig AI states that the phrase is not correct as it stands and is incomplete in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

5%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I thought going" expresses a past consideration, Ludwig AI considers this an incomplete phrase in written English. While common in informal communication and frequently found in News & Media contexts, it necessitates a completing clause for grammatical correctness. Alternatives such as "I considered going" or "I was thinking of going" offer grammatically sound options. The register is generally neutral, though formal contexts benefit from fully formed sentences. While the phrase is used in various contexts and authoritative sources it is important to ensure the phrase has the correct context in order to complete the thought and provide the appropriate meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

My initial thought was to go

Highlights the initial nature of the thought about going, suggesting it might have changed.

I had thought about going

Highlights a past consideration of going, suggesting the thought occurred earlier.

I was thinking of going

Emphasizes the process of thinking about going, similar to considering but more informal.

I considered going

Focuses on the act of considering an action, rather than a completed thought about it.

I intended to go

Emphasizes the intention to go, similar to planning but potentially less structured.

I planned to go

Focuses on the planning aspect of going, indicating a more concrete intention.

I anticipated going

Implies an expectation or anticipation related to going somewhere or doing something.

I expected to go

Focuses on expecting to go, differing from the reflective nature of the original phrase.

I believed I would go

Conveys a belief or conviction about going, shifting the emphasis to certainty.

I imagined going

Highlights the act of imagining the experience of going, adding a layer of visualization.

FAQs

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

To use "I thought going" correctly, complete the sentence with a clause that explains what you thought about the action of going. For example, "I thought going to the beach would be relaxing."

What's a more grammatically sound alternative to "I thought going"?

Consider using phrases like "I considered "going"", "I was thinking of "going"", or "I had thought about "going"" for grammatically correct alternatives.

What does "I thought going" imply?

"I thought going" implies a past consideration or initial idea about going somewhere or doing something, but it requires further context to fully convey the intended meaning.

Is "I thought going" formal or informal?

While the individual words are neither particularly formal nor informal, the phrase "I thought going" is more informal because it's incomplete. Complete sentences are generally preferred in formal contexts.