I was expecting so

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I was expecting so" is not correct in standard English.
A more appropriate expression would be "I was expecting that." Example: "When I heard the news, I was expecting that it would happen eventually."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

"I think I did better than I was expecting, so I'm very happy," she said.

The New York Times - Sports

"I was expecting so much more from your return to social media," he opines in an open message to Kim. "Sad.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Facing the prospect of redundancy, however, gave my career a wake-up call — not something I was expecting so early in my working life.

The Guardian

Natalie Jempeji, section manager in lingerie at John Lewis Oxford Street, said: "It's a bit more than I was expecting so I'm happy with that.

The Guardian - Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

I'm expecting so much fun, mate.

The Guardian - Sport

I couldn't think of anything original to say, and I never cried, but it was expected so I did it.

Vice

Their mother was "expecting"; so was I.

The New York Times

"One of the problems is that I get more frightened each time I write because people are expecting so much.

The New York Times - Magazine

I'd read What To Expect When You're Expecting, so I was all set, right?

Huffington Post

"A week ago I don't think I was expecting that, so I'm very happy with the way things have been going.

BBC

"I was expecting something different — not so many prewar kind of beat-up units," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "I was expecting so". Instead, use grammatically correct alternatives like "I expected that" or "I expected as much" to ensure clarity and accuracy in your writing.

Common error

Be careful not to use "so" as a standalone substitute for a complete clause. Phrases like "I was expecting so" often lack clarity and can confuse readers. Instead, complete the thought with "that" or another appropriate word.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I was expecting so" functions as an incomplete statement of expectation. It relies on context for its meaning, but grammatically, it needs a completing clause. Ludwig AI identifies it as not being standard English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I was expecting so" is considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. While it may appear in some media sources, it is best to avoid using this phrase. Ludwig AI flags it as non-standard. More appropriate alternatives include "I expected that" or "I expected as much", which provide clarity and grammatical correctness. When writing, be mindful of completing your thoughts to avoid potential misunderstandings. This ensures your message is clear and professional.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I expected that

Replaces "so" with "that" to complete the expected clause, making the sentence grammatically correct.

I anticipated that

Uses a more formal verb "anticipated" instead of "expecting", maintaining a similar meaning and grammatical correctness.

I expected as much

Indicates that the outcome was not surprising or unexpected.

That was what I expected

Rephrases to emphasize the expectation aligning with the outcome, ensuring grammatical correctness.

I had foreseen that

Uses "foreseen" to suggest a prior awareness or prediction, providing a formal tone.

I predicted that

Replaces "expecting" with "predicted", focusing on the act of making a prediction.

I assumed that

Emphasizes the assumption made before the outcome, conveying a sense of expectation.

I thought that would happen

Expresses a thought or belief about a future event or outcome.

I believed that would be the case

Suggests a prior belief or conviction about a particular situation or outcome.

I had it in mind that

Indicates that one had a specific thought or intention beforehand.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "I was expecting so"?

You can use alternatives like "I expected that", "I anticipated that", or "I expected as much" depending on the context.

Why is "I was expecting so" considered grammatically incorrect?

The phrase "I was expecting so" is incomplete. The word "so" needs a completing clause, such as "that". Using "I expected that" makes the sentence grammatically sound.

Is it acceptable to use "I was expecting so" in informal conversations?

While it might be understood in some informal contexts, it's generally better to use a grammatically correct alternative like "I expected that" to ensure clarity and avoid potential misunderstandings.

What's the difference between "I expected that" and "I expected as much"?

"I expected that" is a general statement indicating an expectation, while "I expected as much" implies the outcome was not surprising. The choice depends on whether you want to simply state an expectation or express a lack of surprise.