I was thinking so

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I was thinking so" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It can be used when you want to express that your thoughts align with what has been previously said, but it is better to use a more standard expression. Example: "When you mentioned the importance of teamwork, I was thinking so, too."

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Immediately I was thinking, so, Modern Warfare 3, then?

The Guardian - Tech

"The benefit that it had for me," she explains, "is that there's times that I was thinking so much and so fast … that I had to slow down".

The Guardian

'I'm your man.' We all have to go some time, I was thinking, so it might as well be in a good cause.

The Guardian - Books

He was saying, 'I have no idea what you're doing, we've lived totally different lives, but I'm here for you.' I was thinking so much of the war between generations, I didn't read the words".

The New York Times

I asked Hanna what she was feeling while it was being painted, and she laughed: "That painting took months, I was thinking so many things!" This was before I started modeling myself before I knew about that layering effect.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

OK, I'm thinking, so he'll be a little fidgety.

The Guardian

It's been a tragic week in your neighborhood, and I'm sure you're wondering what I'm thinking, so let me tell you.

The New York Times

I'm thinking so.

TechCrunch

The entire time I'm watching this, I'm thinking: So this is what hell looks/sounds like.

TechCrunch

TW: Yeah, I'm thinking so.

Huffington Post

"I was worried about the drive I hit and was thinking so much about my swing that I just lost concentration.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While "I was thinking so" is understandable, consider using alternatives like "I was thinking the same thing" or "I thought so too" for smoother, more natural-sounding prose.

Common error

Avoid using "I was thinking so" in highly formal or academic contexts. Opt for more sophisticated expressions of agreement or concurrence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I was thinking so" primarily functions as a statement of agreement or affirmation. It indicates that the speaker had a similar thought or opinion to something that was previously mentioned. Ludwig AI suggests that while understandable, it may not be the most common phrasing.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "I was thinking so" is a relatively rare expression used to convey agreement or shared thoughts. While grammatically acceptable, Ludwig AI indicates it's not the most common or elegant way to phrase agreement. More common alternatives include "I was thinking the same thing" or "I thought so too". Predominantly found in News & Media contexts, it’s advisable to use more formal expressions in academic or professional settings. While comprehensible, substituting this phrase with alternatives can enhance clarity and sophistication in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I was thinking the same thing

Expresses identical thoughts more directly.

I had the same thought

Implies an identical thought occurred previously.

That's what I was thinking

Confirms alignment with a previously expressed idea.

I thought so too

Indicates agreement with an earlier statement.

I was of the same mind

A more formal way to express agreement.

My thoughts exactly

Emphasizes perfect agreement with the prior statement.

I was just thinking that

Highlights that the thought was recent and spontaneous.

I concur

A brief and formal confirmation of agreement.

I agree completely

Emphasizes full agreement without necessarily sharing the same initial thought process.

That's my feeling as well

Focuses on shared feelings or sentiments rather than exact thoughts.

FAQs

What does "I was thinking so" mean?

The phrase "I was thinking so" generally means that you had a similar or identical thought to something that was just expressed. It indicates agreement or shared thinking.

How can I use "I was thinking so" in a sentence?

You can use "I was thinking so" to express agreement or to show that you had a similar idea. For example, "When you mentioned the importance of teamwork, I was thinking so, too."

What are some alternatives to "I was thinking so"?

You can use alternatives like "I was thinking the same thing", "I thought so too", or "that's what I was thinking".

Is "I was thinking so" grammatically correct?

While not incorrect, "I was thinking so" isn't the most common or elegant phrasing. Alternatives like /s/I+was+thinking+the+same /s/I+thought+so+too sound more natural.