as originally believed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as originally believed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a prior assumption or understanding that has since been revised or proven incorrect. Example: "The results of the study were different from what was expected, as originally believed by the researchers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

Government just didn't shrink nearly as much as originally believed: it shrank 1 percent, rather than the previously reported decline of 1.7 percent.

The New York Times

The market for the A380, he said, was not as large as originally believed, and it has been fragmented by existing long-range planes like the 777 and the A340.

The New York Times

Lord Myners said he accepted it was "a challenge" for regulators to keep up with complex trades but added: "I believe that relief is at hand because these activities were clearly nothing like as profitable as originally believed".

Independent

A Russian special forces officer, Major Aleksi Potyomkin, has claimed that six Red Cross (ICRC) nurses killed in Chechnya in December 1996 were murdered by his FSB unit and not, as originally believed, by Chechen insurgents.

The Guardian - Opinion

A preliminary conclusion from those shards, other Navy officials said, was that the attack was not carried out from a Zodiac-type rubber inflatable as originally believed, but from a boat with a white fiberglass hull.

The New York Times

On Tuesday, the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force said the man thought to have paid $50,000£32,00000) for the chance to kill Cecil was not a Spaniard as originally believed, but US citizen Walter Palmer, from a small town near Minneapolis.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

Although mushrooms are porous, they won't absorb as much moisture as was originally believed.

Los Angeles Times

The conclusion was that the effectiveness of human tutoring is not as high as it was originally believed (effect size d = 2.0) but much lower (d = 0.79).

Smart Learning Environments

Did Manet alter the hat styles after learning that the riflemen were Mexican soldiers, not peasants, as he originally believed?

The New York Times - Arts

A fourth man, Mark Burkes, 47, also from England, sustained a back injury but was not seriously hurt, as was originally believed.

The New York Times

However, the coffin contains only a diary written by Sir Francis, pointing to the location of El Dorado, the fabled city of gold which Sir Francis sought, proving that he faked his death as Nate originally believed.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as originally believed" to clearly indicate a shift in understanding or a correction of previous information. This helps to avoid confusion and ensures the reader understands the revised perspective.

Common error

Avoid using "as originally believed" without specifying what the original belief was. Provide clear context about the initial understanding and how it has changed to ensure clarity for the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as originally believed" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a statement or clause. It indicates that the information being presented contradicts a prior belief or understanding. Ludwig AI confirms that it's a grammatically sound and usable construction.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "as originally believed" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to indicate a shift in understanding. While only "uncommon" in frequency, Ludwig AI has deemed its use sound, appearing most frequently in "News & Media" and "Science" contexts. When employing this phrase, ensure you clearly specify the prior belief to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives such as "as previously thought" or "as initially assumed", can be employed to add variety to your writing. Using a variety of sources is beneficial to illustrate and understand the nuances of this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as previously thought

Replaces "believed" with "thought", focusing on the cognitive aspect of the initial understanding.

as initially assumed

Substitutes "believed" with "assumed", highlighting the tentative nature of the original idea.

as first understood

Emphasizes the initial comprehension of a situation.

as was once thought

Uses a more passive construction, which shifts the focus away from the act of believing.

contrary to initial expectations

Highlights the difference between what was expected and what actually happened.

in contradiction to earlier assumptions

A more formal way to express the revised understanding.

reversing former convictions

Focuses on abandoning firmly held beliefs.

contrary to popular belief

Highlights the contrast between the facts and what most people believe.

contrary to accepted understanding

Emphasizes changes in understanding widely accepted by a community or field of expertise.

in opposition to former assumptions

Highlights a change in assumptions.

FAQs

How can I use "as originally believed" in a sentence?

Use "as originally believed" to indicate that a prior assumption or understanding has been revised or proven incorrect. For example: "The phases of a migraine attack may not be as discrete as "as originally believed"."

What are some alternatives to "as originally believed"?

You can use alternatives like "as previously thought", "as initially assumed", or "as first understood" depending on the context.

What is the difference between "as originally believed" and "as previously thought"?

"As originally believed" and "as previously thought" are very similar, but "as originally believed" emphasizes the act of believing, while "as previously thought" highlights the cognitive aspect of the initial understanding. The choice depends on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it always necessary to specify what was believed when using "as originally believed"?

While not always grammatically required, providing context about the original belief enhances clarity. Without context, the reader may not understand what shift in understanding you're referring to. Therefore it's better to give additional details or context.