I thought to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I thought to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing a consideration or intention to do something in the past. Example: "I thought to call you yesterday, but I got busy with work."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"I thought to shoot".

The New York Times - Sports

I thought to make.

The New Yorker

I thought to myself, Seriously?

The New York Times - Magazine

"I love space," I thought to myself.

The New York Times

"I thought to myself, Oh, boy".

The New Yorker

I thought to myself, "Yes, sometimes".

The New York Times

What an angel, I thought to myself.

The New Yorker

"I thought to myself, 'Really?' " she said.

The New York Times - Books

I thought to myself – poetic justice!

Independent

"I thought to myself: 'O.K., now.

The New York Times - Sports

'Gosh,' I thought to myself.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I thought to" to express a past intention or consideration, especially when narrating a sequence of events or describing a thought process. Ensure the following verb accurately reflects the intended action or idea.

Common error

Avoid using "I thought to" if the intended action was never initiated or completed without clarifying. Instead, specify the outcome or reason for not acting to prevent ambiguity and maintain clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I thought to" primarily functions as an introductory phrase indicating a past intention or consideration. Ludwig AI shows, it's often followed by a verb in the infinitive form, specifying the action the speaker was contemplating.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Science

8%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I thought to" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression for conveying a past intention or consideration. As Ludwig AI's analysis shows, it appears most often in News & Media, but is also applicable across various contexts. When using the phrase, ensure that the intended action is clear and that the surrounding context provides adequate information, especially if the action was never completed. While generally neutral in register, the phrase is best used in narrative or descriptive writing where expressing past intentions adds clarity or context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I intended to

Strongly expresses the speaker's purpose or aim.

I considered doing

Focuses on the act of considering an action, rather than necessarily intending to do it.

I meant to

Conveys the speaker's original intention, often implying that it wasn't fulfilled.

I had it in mind to

Emphasizes the initial intention or plan.

I had thought about

Indicates prior consideration of something.

I entertained the idea of

Highlights the act of considering something, often something novel or interesting.

I was going to

Indicates a near-future intention that may or may not have been realized.

It occurred to me to

Suggests that the idea came to the speaker spontaneously.

I planned on

Implies a more concrete plan than simply thinking about something.

I contemplated

Focuses on a more thoughtful and deliberate consideration.

FAQs

What does "I thought to" mean?

The phrase "I thought to" expresses a past intention or consideration. It indicates that the speaker had a specific idea or plan in mind at some point.

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

You can use "I thought to" to describe a past intention, such as "I thought to call you yesterday, but I got busy". It's often followed by a verb that describes the action you considered.

What are some alternatives to "I thought to"?

You can use alternatives like "I intended to", "I meant to", or "I considered" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "I thought to myself" redundant?

While "I thought to" already implies an internal thought process, "I thought to myself" emphasizes that the thought was internal and not spoken aloud. It's often used to add emphasis or clarify the context of the thought.