as first thought

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as first thought" is not correct in standard written English.
It seems to be an attempt to convey a notion of initial consideration or assumption, but it lacks clarity and proper structure. Example: "The solution was not as first thought, but rather more complex than we anticipated."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Skelton's injury was not as serious as first thought.

The New York Times - Sports

To the Kurds, this was a signal that they were not, as first thought, forgotten.

The Economist

"Injury doesn't seem as bad as first thought, hopefully be back sooner than originally expected!

Independent

Differences were not as wide as first thought, suggested NPT optimists.

The Economist

It turns out that we were all not quite as wonderful as first thought.

The New York Times

Again this was not as missing as first thought but for a rather different reason.

The Guardian

Electric cars have been criticised in the past for not being quite as environmentally friendly as first thought.

The Guardian

Psychiatrists did not find that he had paranoid schizophrenia, as first thought, but several disorders, most notably an extreme narcissistic personality disorder.

The Guardian

Revised figures for GDP in the first quarter show that it grew at an annual rate of 0.6%, rather than stagnating as first thought.

The Economist

There were worries that with more rainfall expected there could be another surge in flooding; however, it is now not expected to be as bad as first thought.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

"It's not just a case of a kilometer-long mineralized zone [as first thought].

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While the phrase "as first thought" is widely used, consider using alternatives like "as initially believed" or "as originally thought" for improved grammatical accuracy and clarity in formal writing.

Common error

Avoid using "as first thought" in formal contexts. It's grammatically weak. Instead, opt for phrases like "as initially believed" or "as originally thought" to ensure clarity and correctness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as first thought" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a statement by indicating a previous assumption or belief that has since been revised or corrected. Ludwig AI states that the phrase is not correct in standard written English, though frequently used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "as first thought" is frequently used to indicate a change in understanding from an initial assumption. However, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect in standard written English. While common across news and media, it is advisable to use more grammatically sound alternatives such as "as initially believed" or "as originally thought" in formal contexts. Despite its frequent usage, the phrase's grammatical weakness impacts its credibility, making alternatives preferable for clear and professional communication. Although widely found in sources like The New York Times and The Guardian, opting for alternatives enhances the overall quality and correctness of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as initially believed

Replaces "first thought" with "initially believed", emphasizing the original belief.

as originally thought

Substitutes "first" with "originally", highlighting the original nature of the thought.

as previously believed

Uses "previously believed" instead of "first thought", stressing the prior belief.

contrary to initial belief

Indicates a direct contradiction to the initial understanding.

contrary to original expectations

Emphasizes the difference from what was originally expected.

as it was first conceived

Focuses on the initial conception or idea.

as initially conceived

Emphasizes the initial concept or idea at inception.

contrary to what we first assumed

Highlights the assumption made at the beginning.

different from what was initially understood

Points out the difference from the initial understanding.

upon further consideration

Implies a deeper review led to a different conclusion.

FAQs

How can I correctly use the idea of "as first thought" in a sentence?

Instead of saying "as first thought", use phrases like "as originally thought" or "as initially believed" for better grammar.

What is a more formal way to express "as first thought"?

For formal writing, substitute "as first thought" with "as previously believed" or "contrary to initial belief" to maintain a professional tone.

Is "as first thought" grammatically correct?

No, "as first thought" is not considered grammatically correct in standard written English. Using alternatives like "as initially understood" improves grammatical accuracy.

What's the difference between "as first thought" and "as originally thought"?

"As originally thought" is grammatically sound and widely accepted, while "as first thought" is considered an incorrect, though common, variant. Using "as originally thought" ensures clearer and more professional communication.