My initial thought was

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "My initial thought was" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express your first impression or idea about a topic or situation. Example: "My initial thought was that we should proceed with the project as planned, but after further discussion, I have some reservations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"When I saw him pull up," Girardi added, "my initial thought was he's out for a while.

The New York Times - Sports

My initial thought was, "how lame".

Independent

"My initial thought was: 'It's over.

The New York Times - Science

My initial thought was: Golly, this is another world.

The Guardian

"My initial thought was empty everything," he says.

The Guardian - Books

"My initial thought was to ask why," he said.

The New York Times

My initial thought was that this could change everything.

The Guardian

My initial thought was to make savory turnovers stuffed with autumnal ingredients.

The New York Times - Food

"My initial thought was that it would be easy to sink the argument," Dr. Giedd said.

The New York Times - Health

"My initial thought was the Hamptons and the East End of Long Island.

The New York Times - Sports

My initial thought was that the Honda Jazz was nothing like jazz.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "My initial thought was" to introduce a past idea or reaction that you later reconsidered or found to be incorrect. This adds depth to your narrative.

Common error

Avoid presenting "My initial thought was" as your definitive opinion without further explanation or development. Always clarify how your perspective evolved.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "My initial thought was" serves as an introductory device, signaling the speaker's or writer's original perception, idea, or reaction to a particular situation or event. This phrase is frequently used to set the stage for further explanation or a contrasting viewpoint. Ludwig confirms this common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Formal & Business

14%

Science

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "My initial thought was" is a versatile phrase used to introduce a prior belief, reaction, or idea, often as a prelude to a change in perspective. It is grammatically correct and very common across various contexts, particularly in news and media. According to Ludwig, the phrase is frequently employed to provide context and background in narratives. When writing, be mindful of using it to set up evolved viewpoints rather than presenting it as a definitive conclusion. Alternatives such as "My first thought was" or "Initially, I thought" can be used for similar effect. It is always appropriate to present your initial thought, provided you elaborate on why your thought changed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

My first thought was

Replaces "initial" with "first", emphasizing the immediacy of the thought.

Initially, I thought

Rephrases the sentence structure to place "initially" at the beginning.

My first impression was

Substitutes "thought" with "impression", focusing on the initial feeling or understanding.

At first, I thought

Uses "at first" to convey the initial timing of the thought.

My immediate reaction was

Replaces "thought" with "reaction", highlighting the spontaneous response.

I initially believed

Emphasizes the belief held at the beginning.

My original idea was

Focuses on the original idea or plan.

The first thing that came to mind was

Highlights the spontaneous nature of the first thought.

I originally assumed

Highlights a primary assumption that was made.

I initially figured

Emphasizes the initial figuring or understanding of a situation.

FAQs

What's the difference between "My initial thought was" and "My first thought was"?

While similar, "My initial thought was" implies a thought that might have evolved over time, while "My first thought was" simply indicates the chronological order of your thoughts. They are largely interchangeable, but the former emphasizes a potential change in perspective.

What can I say instead of "My initial thought was"?

You can use alternatives like "My first thought was", "Initially, I thought", or "My first impression was" depending on the context.

How to use "My initial thought was" in a sentence?

You can use "My initial thought was" to introduce a thought or idea you had at the beginning of a situation or process, for example: "My initial thought was that the project would be simple, but it turned out to be quite complex."

Is it better to use "My initial thought was" or "Initially, I thought"?

Both "My initial thought was" and "Initially, I thought" are grammatically correct and convey the same meaning. The choice depends on personal preference and sentence structure. "Initially, I thought" might be more suitable at the beginning of a paragraph for emphasis.