I was thinking the same

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "I was thinking the same" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express agreement with someone else's thought or opinion. For example: Person A: "I think we need to come up with a new strategy." Person B: "I was thinking the same."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

I was thinking the same thing.

The New York Times

To which Buzinski replied, "I was thinking the same thing".

The New York Times - Sports

I was thinking the same thing I'm always thinking: that I want to be a star.

The New York Times - Magazine

I was thinking the same recently, as I attended the first night of Covent Garden's new season, Richard Jones's new production of Puccini's Il Trittico.

The Guardian - Music

Some suggestions were amusing but unhelpful: in response to an e-mail asking how much of a particular chemical I wished to order, Smart Reply thought I might want to say "I have no idea," "I am not sure," or "I was thinking the same thing".

The New Yorker

When Bush turned up – in a film, not in the studio, which itself was unusual then – he raised his eyes to the heavens and said something like: "What have we got now?" I was thinking the same thing, but for different reasons.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Michael chimed in: "I'm thinking the same thing as Pat.

The New York Times

Franchitti is quick to brush aside talk of No. 4. "I know it's the big story," he said, "but I'm thinking the same way I do every year I come here: how do you win?" Only when the talk turns to history does he grow introspective.

The New York Times - Sports

As he says it, I am thinking the same thing: of our culture's association of whiteness with innocence, of a child described without an accompanying adjective, of a child rendered insignificant and therefore invisible because of his or her particular shade of skin.

The New Yorker

My advice on that is twofold: I'll get back to No. 1 in a minute, but first let's look at No. 2. (I know you're thinking that if I wanted to talk about No. 2 first, then that should have been No. 1, not the other way around. Well, I'm thinking the same thing, so, since we're in agreement, let's not fight about it).

The New Yorker

When I see the littlest prince, I am thinking the same thing.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I was thinking the same" to smoothly show agreement in conversations or writing. It indicates you share the same viewpoint without being repetitive.

Common error

Avoid using "I was thinking the same" repeatedly in a conversation, as it can sound monotonous. Vary your responses with other expressions of agreement like "I agree" or "That's a great point."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I was thinking the same" functions as an interjection expressing agreement. It's a concise way to indicate that the speaker had a similar thought or idea. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "I was thinking the same" is a grammatically sound and useful phrase for expressing agreement, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. While found primarily in news and media sources, its neutral register makes it suitable for various contexts. To avoid overuse, consider employing synonyms like "I had the same thought" or "that's exactly what I was thinking". Remember that while it's a great way to signal alignment, variety in expression is key to engaging communication. The phrase functions as a simple yet effective interjection, indicating shared perspectives and promoting a sense of connection.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I had the same thought

Uses "thought" instead of "thinking", implying a completed idea rather than an ongoing process.

That's exactly what I was thinking

Adds emphasis with "exactly", highlighting the complete agreement.

I was just thinking that

Indicates the thought occurred very recently.

My thoughts exactly

A shorter, more emphatic agreement.

I'm of the same mind

A more formal way of expressing agreement.

I couldn't agree more

Expresses strong agreement with the prior statement.

Great minds think alike

An idiomatic expression implying intelligence in shared thoughts.

We're on the same wavelength

Implies a deeper connection and understanding.

I agree completely

A simpler, more direct expression of agreement.

I concur

A formal and concise way to express agreement.

FAQs

What does it mean to say "I was thinking the same"?

Saying "I was thinking the same" means you share the same thought or opinion as someone else. It's a way to express agreement or a shared perspective.

How can I use "I was thinking the same" in a sentence?

You can use "I was thinking the same" after someone expresses an idea you also had. For example, if someone says, "We should order pizza," you could respond, "I was thinking the same."

What are some alternatives to "I was thinking the same"?

Alternatives include "I had the same thought", "that's exactly what I was thinking", or "my thoughts exactly".

Is "I was thinking the same thing" different from "I was thinking the same"?

The phrases "I was thinking the same thing" and "I was thinking the same" are virtually interchangeable and carry the same meaning. Both express agreement with a previous statement.