at first I believed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at first I believed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing an initial opinion or feeling that later changed or was challenged. Example: "At first I believed the rumors about the new policy, but later I found out the truth."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Yes, at first I believed that Harman was complicit.

The New York Times

At first I believed that the appearance of love from a dog is only a strategy, to win protection.

The New Yorker

"At first, I believed him," he says.

Huffington Post

At first I believed that I didn't deserve to get into the school I got into.

Huffington Post

"At first I believed her, because life is hard and you want a better life," she said.

Vice

At first, I believed that Penny's career should have been handled on its own, but as the episode progressed, combining it with their relationship made sense.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

At first, I believe, these factors will cause people to pull back from whatever level of cultural 'scaling' they have achieved to the previous level.

BBC

At first, I truly believed as the Chief Prosecutor of the Air Force I could help fix the broken military justice system from the inside.

Huffington Post

"At first, I did believe the marketing that there was a booby trap in there," he said.

The New York Times - Health

At first, I couldn't believe that my friend was gone; lately, I find it hard to believe that he was ever here.

The New Yorker

At first I couldn't believe that then-candidate George W. Bush was saying so many clearly, provably false things; then I couldn't believe that nobody in the news media was willing to point out the lies.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "at first I believed" to clearly indicate a change in your opinion or understanding. This emphasizes the evolution of your perspective.

Common error

Avoid using "at first I believed" without clearly stating your current belief. Failing to provide the contrast leaves the reader wondering about your present stance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at first I believed" functions as an introductory adverbial phrase followed by a main clause. It sets the temporal context for a past belief, as Ludwig examples demonstrate, preceding the statement of what was believed. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "at first I believed" is a grammatically correct phrase used to introduce a belief held in the past, often contrasted with a current understanding. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and offers diverse examples from news and media sources. While the phrase is not exceedingly common, it is versatile and appropriate for various contexts, maintaining a neutral register. To enhance clarity, it's best practice to always state the current belief when using this phrase. To add variety, consider alternative phrases like "initially, I thought" or "originally, I believed". It's a valuable tool for expressing changes in perspective.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

my initial thought was

Simplifies the phrase while retaining the meaning of an initial belief.

to begin with, I thought

Substitutes "at first" with "to begin with" and "believed" with "thought" to convey a similar meaning.

I initially considered

Focuses on the consideration aspect rather than a firm belief, slightly altering the original meaning.

I started out thinking

Uses "started out thinking" as a more informal way to express the initial belief.

initially, I was under the impression

Replaces "at first I believed" with a more formal tone, using "under the impression" to convey the initial belief.

at the start, I was convinced

Emphasizes the strength of the initial belief using "was convinced".

originally, I had the belief

Uses "originally" to replace "at first" and "had the belief" instead of "believed".

in the beginning, my belief was

Rephrases the sentence structure to emphasize the initial belief using "in the beginning".

at the outset, I was of the opinion

Replaces "at first" with "at the outset" and "believed" with "was of the opinion" for a more formal tone.

my first impression led me to believe

Highlights that the initial belief stemmed from a first impression.

FAQs

How can I use "at first I believed" in a sentence?

Use "at first I believed" to introduce a past belief that you no longer hold, typically followed by a contrasting statement indicating your current perspective. For example, "At first I believed the project would fail, but now I see its potential."

What are some alternatives to "at first I believed"?

You can use alternatives like "initially I thought", "originally I believed", or "in the beginning I thought" to express a similar idea.

Is it correct to say "at first I believed" or should I use a different tense?

The phrase "at first I believed" is grammatically correct for describing a past belief. The use of the past tense "believed" is appropriate in this context.

What's the difference between "at first I believed" and "I used to believe"?

While both phrases indicate a past belief, "at first I believed" often implies a specific point in time when the belief was held initially, whereas "I used to believe" suggests a belief held over a more extended period. The former often sets up a contrast with a current belief, while the latter simply states a past belief.