at first I supposed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at first I supposed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing an initial belief or assumption that may have changed over time. Example: "At first I supposed that the meeting would be straightforward, but it turned out to be quite complex."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

At first I supposed they had self-seeded.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

I found it hard to do this at first, I suppose I still do.

The Guardian - Books

It looked a bit pathetic; at first I suppose I felt slight pity for them.

The Guardian

These earphones are quite tricky to get on, and they feel a bit strange at first – I suppose I'm not used to them.

The Guardian - Sport

"It was worrisome at first, I suppose, because the only reason you'd need the card is if you can't get another form of identification," he said.

Huffington Post

Business first, I suppose.

Vice

I suppose at first I dealt with it very badly, getting emotional and confronting her about her "neglect" of our friendship.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"At first I thought that perhaps she was supposed to be crazy, and started reading up on neuroses.

The New York Times - Arts

It looks like cheese at first glance, which I suppose one could call 'playful deception'.

Huffington Post

Finally the officials delegated one of their number to take action, and the unfortunate gentleman chosen brought the talk around to golf and said, at the sixth tee, "I suppose you're a member of the Stream, Mr. Baker?" Mr. Baker was concentrating on the ball.

The New Yorker

At first he supposed that his inbred offspring were weak because of some disease, or because they were grown in unsuitable soil.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "at first I supposed", ensure that the subsequent context clarifies how your initial supposition was modified or proven incorrect. This adds clarity and value to your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "at first I supposed" without explaining how your initial supposition evolved. Without further explanation, the phrase can sound incomplete or leave the reader wondering about the outcome of your initial thought process.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at first I supposed" functions as an introductory clause, setting the stage for a statement that contrasts an initial assumption with a subsequent understanding. According to Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Wiki

7%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "at first I supposed" is a grammatically sound introductory clause used to present an initial assumption or belief that was later modified or proven incorrect. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English. It's commonly found in News & Media and Science contexts, serving to introduce a narrative element where perspectives shift. When using the phrase, it's best practice to provide context by explaining how the initial supposition evolved. Related phrases include "initially I assumed" and "at first I thought", offering similar ways to express an initial belief.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

initially I assumed

Replaces "supposed" with "assumed", indicating a slightly stronger initial belief.

at first I presumed

Uses "presumed" instead of "supposed", suggesting a tentative assumption based on probability.

at first I believed

Replaces "supposed" with "believed", indicating a stronger initial conviction.

at first I imagined

Uses "imagined" to convey an initial thought or fantasy rather than a concrete belief.

at the beginning I thought

Rephrases "at first" to "at the beginning", keeping "thought" as a more general term.

I initially surmised

Replaces "at first I supposed" with a more formal "I initially surmised", implying a reasoned guess.

I originally conjectured

Utilizes "conjectured" to suggest a more speculative initial hypothesis.

my initial assumption was

Changes the sentence structure to emphasize the assumption itself.

first I had an idea that

Emphasizes the idea itself, more informal.

to begin with, I guessed

Uses "to begin with" for "at first" and "guessed" for "supposed", creating a more casual tone.

FAQs

What does "at first I supposed" mean?

It means that initially you believed or assumed something, but later your belief or understanding changed.

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

You can use it to introduce a contrast between an earlier belief and a later realization. For example, "At first I supposed the task would be easy, but I soon realized it was quite challenging."

What can I say instead of "at first I supposed"?

You can use alternatives like "initially I assumed", "at first I thought", or "I originally believed" depending on the context.

Is "at first I supposed" formal or informal?

The phrase is generally neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. The level of formality often depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and sentence structure.