I thought would

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I thought would" is not correct and incomplete in written English.
It can be used in a context where a subject is implied, but it needs additional information to be grammatically correct. Example: "I thought you would enjoy the movie."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That time, I thought, would never come.

The New Yorker

That, I thought, would be that.

Independent

Eyebrows, I thought, would be good.

The New York Times

Neither, I thought, would I.

The New York Times - Magazine

It's not something I thought would happen".

The New York Times - Sports

A Jewish boy I thought would understand.

The New Yorker

"What I thought would happen, did not occur," Stefanski said.

The New York Times

My older daughter, I thought, would be furious.

The New York Times

This is the last thing I thought would happen".

The New York Times

"What I thought would be the answer is not.

The Guardian - Arts

I asked some people I thought would know.

The New York Times - Food

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Complete the phrase with a verb and any necessary objects or complements to form a grammatically correct sentence. For example, instead of "I thought would", use "I thought it would rain".

Common error

Avoid using "I thought would" without completing the thought. Ensure your sentence includes a clear subject and verb to convey your intended meaning fully.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I thought would" functions as an incomplete clause expressing a past belief or expectation. It requires completion to form a grammatically correct sentence. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase needs additional information to be grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Formal & Business

6%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Science

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "I thought would" is frequently used, it is grammatically incomplete and requires additional context to form a correct sentence. Ludwig AI confirms this by indicating the need for more information. Although it appears in reputable news sources, its incorrect structure suggests it is more appropriate for informal communication. To improve clarity and grammatical accuracy, consider using alternatives such as "I believed it would" or completing the phrase with a subject and verb. Avoiding this incomplete structure enhances the overall quality of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I believed would

Replaces "thought" with "believed", maintaining a similar meaning while still requiring completion of the sentence for grammatical correctness.

I imagined would

Uses "imagined" instead of "thought", keeping the meaning of expectation or anticipation, but needs completion for a full sentence.

I anticipated would

Substitutes "thought" with "anticipated", suggesting a prior expectation, but the sentence remains incomplete.

I assumed would

Replaces "thought" with "assumed", implying a presumption about a future event, but needs additional context.

I expected would

Uses "expected" in place of "thought", indicating a belief that something was likely to happen, requiring further context.

I had thought would

Adds "had" to "thought", suggesting a past belief, but the phrase still requires completion.

I once thought would

Includes "once" to indicate a past belief that may no longer be held, but the sentence is still incomplete.

I previously thought would

Adds "previously" to clarify that the thought occurred in the past, but the sentence structure remains incomplete.

I mistakenly thought would

Emphasizes an error in the thinking process, but still needs completion to be grammatically sound.

I naively thought would

Highlights a lack of experience or wisdom in the initial thought, but the phrase remains grammatically incomplete.

FAQs

How can I correct the phrase "I thought would"?

To correct "I thought would", complete the sentence with a subject and verb that clarify what you thought. For example, you could say "I thought it "would rain"" or "I thought he "would agree"".

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

Alternatives include phrases like "I believed it "would be easy"", "I expected that he "would call"", or "I assumed things "would improve"".

Is it ever correct to use "I thought would"?

While commonly used, "I thought would" is grammatically incomplete on its own. It requires additional words to form a complete sentence and convey a clear meaning. It is often used informally, but it's better to use a complete thought such as "I thought it "would work"".

How does the meaning change if I complete "I thought would" differently?

Completing "I thought would" with different clauses changes the meaning entirely. "I thought it "would be fun"" expresses a belief about enjoyment, while "I thought he "would refuse"" expresses an expectation of disagreement.