as initially expected

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase “as initially expected” is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when something is happening according to a prior expectation. For example, “The project was completed on time, as initially expected.”.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

Elemental carbon did not contribute significantly to the loss of solar reflectance as initially expected.

Building and Environment

The rest of the hardware was plug-and-play, working as initially expected and not needing additional tests.

Cornell University

Bush is, in effect, running the Hillary 2008 campaign the one that didn't end as initially expected.

The New Yorker

Bush is, in effect, running the Hillary 2008 campaign — the one that didn't end as initially expected.

The New Yorker

Many large retailers decided to adopt RFID as their new supply chain technology, but RFID adoption by all industries did not spread as rapidly as initially expected.

Information & Management

And because output from existing wells is not tapering off as fast as initially expected, the actual reserves could wind up being double present estimates.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

Although the use of the Internet and the World Wide Web (WWW) in academic publishing advanced since the early 1990s, the growth of electronic journals proved neither as rapid nor as significant as was initially expected.

Advances in Computers

In interviews, several donors, fund-raisers and advisers in and around the campaign expressed genuine concern that the size of Mrs. Clinton's fund-raising margin over Mr. Obama may not be as great as donors initially expected in the early, exuberant days of her candidacy in late January and early February.

The New York Times

On the whole, the perception of freight issues by participants in neighbourhood councils was not as negative as we initially expected.

European Transport Research Review

Although our analysis found on average higher probabilities of RNA base pairing at the 3' end of the 5'UTR region in the eIF4E responsive mRNAs, this effect is not as strong as we initially expected.

Plosone

The correlation coefficient is 0.36, which is not as high as we initially expected considering both EST and SAGE libraries were prepared from the same mRNA sample.

BMC Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as initially expected" to clearly indicate that an outcome aligns with prior predictions, providing context and setting reader expectations.

Common error

Avoid using "as initially expected" when referring to hypothetical future events or projections; this phrase is best suited for describing past or present outcomes that either match or diverge from previous anticipations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as initially expected" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the degree to which an outcome corresponds with prior anticipations. Ludwig confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "as initially expected" is a grammatically sound and commonly used adverbial phrase that indicates an outcome matches prior anticipations. With a neutral register, it's suitable for diverse contexts, from science and news to formal business settings. Ludwig confirms its correct usage and provides many real-world examples of the phrase in action. While generally versatile, it's best to use it to refer to situations or outcomes that you already know about, rather than to hypothetical future scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not as anticipated

This phrase is a shorter, more direct way to express that something didn't happen as expected.

contrary to initial expectations

This phrase highlights a situation that unfolded differently from what was originally anticipated.

against expectations

This phrase conveys a sense of surprise or unexpectedness.

different from what was expected

This phrase indicates a divergence from the original anticipation.

deviating from the original plan

This phrase specifies that the deviation is from a planned course of action.

running counter to predictions

This phrase describes a situation that goes against formulated predictions.

unforeseen circumstances arose

This phrase introduces the element of unpredictable events altering outcomes.

contrary to what one might think

This phrase emphasizes a difference from what is commonly assumed or believed.

unexpectedly

This is a more concise adverb to indicate something happened in an unpredicted way.

at odds with the forecast

This phrase indicates a conflict or disagreement between the actual outcome and the forecast.

FAQs

How can I use "as initially expected" in a sentence?

You can use "as initially expected" to show that something happened the way you thought it would. For example, "The project was completed on time, as initially expected."

What is a good alternative to "as initially expected"?

Alternatives include "not as anticipated", "contrary to initial expectations", or "different from what was expected", depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use "as initially expected"?

It's appropriate to use "as initially expected" when you want to emphasize that an outcome aligns with a prior expectation or plan. It's best used when describing past or current situations, not future hypotheticals.

Is "as initially expected" formal or informal?

"As initially expected" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. It is common in news, scientific reports, and general communication.