What you probably meant was

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "What you probably meant was" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to clarify or correct someone's statement by suggesting an alternative interpretation of their words. Example: "What you probably meant was that you would prefer to meet next week instead of this week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

What you probably mean to say is: "I have never gotten into either reggae or weed, and the two are very very closely related".

Vice

What he probably meant was: Britain must not leave.Limp EuroloversThis is an early indication of what a referendum campaign might look like.

The Economist

What he probably meant was that Acer may be stepping into HP's shoes during the confusion.

TechCrunch

What that probably meant is savings would follow deregulation of employment contracts and wage levels.

The Guardian

"I think that what she probably meant was that she..."...

The New Yorker

"I think that what she probably meant was that she.

The New Yorker

"I think that what she probably meant was that she......

The New Yorker

But what he probably meant was that Schubert's concert works inhabited some cosmic realm where normal time frames are irrelevant.

The New York Times - Arts

One can understand that what Jones probably meant was that Michael Jackson was a victim of his fame.

Huffington Post

Actually, what he probably meant was that if his margins are typical of the industry, he stands to make about a billion dollars off the $4.9 billion project (which is slated to receive close to $2 billion in subsidies and used eminent domain or its threat to acquire most of the land).

Huffington Post

What they probably mean is a return to Trainspotting.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "what you probably meant was" to respectfully rephrase a statement when clarity is needed, ensuring the alternative interpretation aligns with the speaker's intent.

Common error

Avoid using "what you probably meant was" to impose your own views or assumptions; ensure the rephrased statement genuinely reflects the speaker's likely intention, not your personal bias.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what you probably meant was" serves as a clarification or reinterpretation. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is grammatically sound and usable. It is typically used to suggest a more accurate or understandable version of a previous statement.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

News & Media

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Science

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "what you probably meant was" is a useful phrase for rephrasing or clarifying someone's statement. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It serves to ensure clarity or correct misunderstandings in a respectful manner. While rated as correct, usage should be tailored to the specific context to maintain professional and clear communication. Be mindful of the potential to impose personal views and strive to accurately reflect the speaker's intent, not your personal bias. Consider alternatives such as "what you likely intended to say was" or "perhaps you intended to express" for different levels of formality or emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

What you likely intended to say was

Substitutes "probably" with "likely", offering a similar level of certainty.

You most likely meant to say

Replaces "probably meant" with "most likely meant", emphasizing a higher degree of likelihood.

Perhaps you intended to express

Uses "perhaps" to suggest a possible intended meaning, softening the correction.

Maybe you were trying to say

Employs "maybe" to propose an alternative phrasing, indicating uncertainty.

What you were perhaps implying was

Focuses on the implied meaning, using "perhaps" to introduce the suggested interpretation.

It sounds like you were suggesting

Shifts the focus to the listener's interpretation, suggesting a possible meaning.

A better way to put it might be

Suggests an improved phrasing, offering a more direct correction.

In other words, you meant

Introduces a simpler explanation of the original statement.

To clarify, you were saying

Indicates an intention to clarify the previous statement.

Are you trying to convey that

Poses a question to confirm the intended message.

FAQs

How can I use "What you probably meant was" in a sentence?

You can use "What you probably meant was" to suggest an alternative interpretation of someone's statement, like: "You said you disliked the movie, what you probably meant was that you found the plot confusing."

What's a more formal alternative to "What you probably meant was"?

In formal settings, consider using "Perhaps you intended to express" or "It seems you were suggesting". These phrases offer a more diplomatic way to rephrase someone's statement.

Is "What you probably meant was" always appropriate?

While generally acceptable, be mindful of the context and relationship with the speaker. Using a direct correction may not always be the most diplomatic approach.

What's the difference between "What you probably meant was" and "What you actually meant was"?

"What you probably meant was" implies a gentle correction or clarification. "What you actually meant was" suggests a stronger disagreement or an intention to correct a misstatement.