I used think

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I used think" is not correct in English.
Did you mean "I used to think"? You can use "I used to think" when referring to a past belief or opinion that you no longer hold. Example: "I used to think that all dogs were friendly, but I've learned that some can be quite aggressive."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Most people think police officers don't do bad things – when I was small boy I had a toy police helmet and I used think that, too.

The Guardian

I used think, "Well, why don't you go and get a job instead of asking me for money?" Then there was an article on her in the paper!

Vice

Sometimes,I used think that planning is great, sure it is but doing things are much better.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

"I used to think I was Venus, I think.

The New York Times - Sports

I'm not thinking the way I used to think.

The Guardian - Tech

I used to think so.

The New York Times

I used to think not.

The New Yorker

Quite right too, I used to think.

Independent

"I used to think women were useless.

The Economist

"I used to think it was 50.

The New York Times

That's what I used to think.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct form "I used to think" when referring to past beliefs or habits that are no longer true.

Common error

Avoid omitting "to" after "used" when describing past actions or beliefs. Saying "I used think" is grammatically incorrect; always use "I used to think".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I used think" is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI shows that the correct form is "I used to think". The primary grammatical function of "I used to think" is to express a past belief or habit that is no longer true.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Wiki

33%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I used think" is grammatically incorrect; the correct form is "I used to think". As Ludwig AI highlights, the function of "I used to think" is to express a past belief or habit. Although examples exist, they represent errors in writing. Remember to always include the "to" for grammatical correctness. The authoritative sources available through Ludwig underscore this point.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I used to think

Adds the word 'to' to correct the grammatical structure, indicating a past belief or habit.

I once thought

Uses "once" to specify a single instance of thinking something in the past.

I previously thought

Emphasizes that the thought occurred before the present time.

I thought in the past

Rephrases to emphasize the past tense of thinking, suitable for describing a former belief.

I formerly believed

Indicates a past belief that is no longer held.

Earlier, I thought

Highlights that the thinking took place at an earlier time.

In the past, I thought

Specifies that the thought was held during a period in the past.

I held the belief that

Replaces "thought" with "belief", suggesting a more firm conviction in the past.

My past self thought

Attributes the thought to a former version of oneself.

I entertained the idea that

Indicates that the idea was considered but not necessarily believed.

FAQs

Why is "I used think" grammatically incorrect?

The correct form to express a past habit or belief is "I used to think". The word "used" requires the infinitive form of the verb, which is achieved by adding "to" before "think".

What does "I used to think" mean?

The phrase "I used to think" indicates a past belief, habit, or opinion that is no longer held in the present. For example, "I used to think that all vegetables were gross, but now I love them."

What can I say instead of "I used to think"?

You can use alternatives such as "I once thought", "I previously believed", or "In the past I thought" depending on the specific context.

What's the difference between "I used think" and "I used to think"?

"I used think" is grammatically incorrect and should not be used. "I used to think" is the correct way to express a past belief or habit that is no longer true.