I was believed

USAGE SUMMARY

'I was believed' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something that was previously thought or stated was accepted as true. For example, "I told the media that the company was doing well financially, and I was believed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

But what I really needed, it turns out, was to know I was believed.

Independent

I was believed.

Huffington Post

Though I would have resented the suggestion, I was simply narrow-minded -- convinced that what I was believed was right though I had never honestly examined it.

Huffington Post

I was refusing to get really visible and consistent with my message, because I was believed that no one was listening, that I was wasting my time, and that I was setting myself up for more disappointment.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

When attribute i is believed to influence attribute j, we denote the influence by (g_{ij}).

Journal of Modern Transportation

"As I was with her the night she took ill, I am believed to be exposed.

The New Yorker

"I'm believing," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

I felt I would be believed.

Independent

Is it to be believed?

Vice

I am trying, believe me.

Independent

Lula, I'm sure, believes in God.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I was believed" to emphasize that your words or account were accepted as truthful, especially after a period of doubt or skepticism.

Common error

Avoid using "I was believed" when you intend to express your own belief. Instead, use "I believed" to indicate your personal conviction.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "I was believed" is to express the passive reception of trust or acceptance. Ludwig confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and used to convey that the speaker's statement or account was accepted as truthful by others. This contrasts with the active voice "I believed", which expresses the speaker's own conviction.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

12%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "I was believed" is a grammatically correct phrase used to express that the speaker's statement or account was accepted as truthful by others. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment and provides examples from reputable sources, predominantly within news and media. Although not exceedingly common, the phrase effectively conveys validation and acknowledgment, often in contexts where credibility is a central theme. While it is suitable for formal and neutral registers, it is important not to be confused with similar sounding phrases like "I believed".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

My statement was accepted

Highlights the acceptance of a specific statement rather than overall belief in the speaker.

My account was trusted

Focuses on the reliability of the speaker's narrative or explanation.

People took my word

Emphasizes the act of others accepting the speaker's statement as truth.

I was considered credible

Shifts the focus to the speaker's perceived trustworthiness.

I gained credence

Focuses on the speaker acquiring credibility, shifting from passive acceptance to active gaining of trust.

I was seen as reliable

Highlights the speaker's consistency and dependability.

My claims were validated

Emphasizes external confirmation of the speaker's statements.

I was regarded as truthful

Directly addresses the speaker's reputation for honesty.

My story held water

An idiomatic way of saying the speaker's story seemed plausible and believable.

I was given the benefit of the doubt

Suggests that the speaker was initially doubted but ultimately trusted.

FAQs

How can I use "I was believed" in a sentence?

Use "I was believed" to indicate that your statement or account was accepted as true by others. For example, "After presenting the evidence, I was believed".

What's the difference between "I was believed" and "I believed"?

"I was believed" indicates that someone else accepted your statement as true, while "I believed" expresses your own personal belief.

What can I say instead of "I was believed"?

You can use alternatives like "my statement was accepted", "people took my word", or "I gained credence" depending on the context.

Is "I was believed" grammatically correct?

Yes, "I was believed" is grammatically correct. It is a passive voice construction indicating that the subject (I) was the recipient of the action (believed).