I was thinking surely

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I was thinking surely" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to express a strong belief or assumption, but it lacks clarity and proper structure. Example: "I was thinking surely that he would arrive on time, given how important the meeting was."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

I was thinking: 'Surely not me?' I knew I had overtaken Stewie's number of appearances but his runs?

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

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Vice

I know what you're thinking, "surely there are more categories of story than that".

The Guardian - Books

I know what you're thinking: "surely these deaths are the fault of unscrupulous people smugglers and their rickety boats.

Independent

Exhausted and anxious, you're thinking surely there must be a better way.

The New York Times

Danny Mills's view: "The first touch was brilliant, you're thinking surely now he has to score but in fairness to Neuer, he came out very quickly.

BBC

OK, you're thinking, surely doctors did a better job when they were seeing patients for a skin-related disease like melanoma or actinic keratosis.

Los Angeles Times

At 2-0 down I was thinking about Istanbul, wondering: 'Surely it can't happen again.' With Stevie out there, I should have known better".

The Guardian - Sport

I was thinking 'surely not me?' I knew I had overtaken Stewie's number of appearances but his runs?

Independent

"Even then I was thinking 'surely not' but then we came off and the whole reality hit us".

BBC

I've seen this type of movie, I am thinking, but surely my character would have a curly perm.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "I was thinking surely" in formal writing. Replace it with clearer alternatives such as "I was sure that" or "I certainly thought" to convey your intended meaning more effectively.

Common error

Do not directly combine "thinking" with "surely" in this way. Instead, clarify what you were thinking and why you were certain. For example, say "I was thinking that he would surely agree" or "I was thinking, 'Surely, this can't be right.'"

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I was thinking surely" functions as an introductory phrase meant to express a degree of certainty or expectation associated with a thought. However, Ludwig AI indicates it's not a standard construction in English, suggesting it's grammatically incorrect.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "I was thinking surely" attempts to express a thought accompanied by a sense of certainty, it's grammatically unconventional and not recommended for formal writing. Ludwig AI confirms this, stating that the phrase is not correct in standard written English. Instead, opt for clearer and more grammatically sound alternatives like "I was sure that" or "I certainly thought" to convey your intended meaning effectively. The expression is rare but mainly appears in news and media, as well as scientific articles, though its unconventional structure should be avoided.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I certainly thought

Emphasizes the speaker's strong belief or expectation about something.

I definitely believed

Highlights the speaker's firm conviction regarding a particular outcome.

I had assumed

Implies a prior expectation or supposition that may or may not have been accurate.

I fully expected

Conveys a sense of anticipation or anticipation of a specific event or result.

I had every reason to believe

Suggests a logical basis for the speaker's initial assumption or belief.

I was under the impression

Indicates that the speaker held a particular belief or understanding, which may or may not have been accurate.

I had it in my head

Indicates a firm belief or conviction that something is the case, but there is no external confirmation about the veracity.

I considered it a given

Indicates that the speaker considers this to be true or fact, and does not need further confirmation.

I took it for granted

Suggests a habitual acceptance of something as true or valid, often without conscious thought or evaluation.

I was convinced

Expresses a strong belief in the truth or validity of something, often based on compelling evidence or personal conviction.

FAQs

What's wrong with saying "I was thinking surely"?

The adverb "surely" doesn't typically modify the verb "thinking" directly. It's grammatically awkward. You can fix it by saying "I was thinking that surely..." or rephrasing to use a different verb like "I was certain that..."

What can I say instead of "I was thinking surely"?

Better alternatives include phrases like "I was sure that", "I definitely thought", or "I certainly thought", depending on the level of certainty you want to convey.

Is it ever correct to use "surely" after "thinking"?

Yes, it's correct if you use "surely" to modify the statement you are thinking about, not the act of thinking itself. For example, "I was thinking, 'Surely, this can't be true.'"

How can I express a strong belief without using "I was thinking surely"?

Use stronger verbs like "believed", "knew", or "was convinced". For example, "I was convinced that he would succeed" is a more direct and grammatically sound way to express your belief.