believe that

USAGE SUMMARY

"believe that" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used at the beginning of a sentence to make a statement about one's beliefs. For example: "I believe that everyone deserves kindness and respect."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Believe that?" he said.

The New Yorker

"Can you believe that?

The New York Times

Do you believe that?

The New York Times

(I believe that means bananas).

The New York Times - Magazine

Can you believe that Anna?

The New York Times

But don't believe that!

WikiHow

Believe that wikiHow has everything.

WikiHow

Believe that.

Independent

I do believe that.

The New York Times - Magazine

But few believe that.

The Economist

I cannot believe that.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "believe that" to express a personal conviction or viewpoint, but avoid overusing it in formal writing where more nuanced alternatives might be appropriate.

Common error

Avoid starting multiple sentences in a paragraph with "I believe that". Vary your sentence structure by using synonyms like "I am convinced that" or "It is my understanding that" to create more compelling and sophisticated writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "believe that" functions as a declarative clause introducer. It introduces a statement expressing a personal conviction or opinion. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Wiki

14%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

10%

Reference

8%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "believe that" is a grammatically sound and very common expression used to introduce a statement of personal conviction or opinion. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is appropriate for various writing styles. Analysis of real-world examples reveals that it appears most frequently in News & Media sources, but also in Wiki and Formal & Business contexts. For more formal writing, consider using synonyms like "I am convinced that" or "It is my understanding that" to enhance nuance and sophistication. However, overusing "believe that" should be avoided to prevent redundancy and improve sentence variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

am convinced that

Indicates a strong sense of certainty.

think that

Replaces "believe" with "think", suggesting a less firm conviction.

it is my belief that

Formalizes the expression of belief.

hold the belief that

Adds emphasis by explicitly stating the holding of a belief.

I have faith that

Conveys a sense of trust or confidence in something.

am of the opinion that

Introduces a more formal and personal expression of opinion.

deem it true that

Offers a formal declaration of truth or validity.

it is my understanding that

Highlights the understanding or interpretation of something.

I'm under the impression that

Suggests a perception that may not be fully confirmed.

consider it likely that

Expresses a degree of probability or expectation.

FAQs

How can I use "believe that" in a sentence?

You can use "believe that" to express a personal conviction or opinion. For instance, "I believe that hard work leads to success."

What are some alternatives to "believe that"?

You can use alternatives like "think that", "am convinced that", or "am of the opinion that" depending on the context.

Is it correct to start a sentence with "believe that"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct to start a sentence with "believe that". For example, "Believe that you can achieve your goals, and you're halfway there."

What's the difference between "believe that" and "think that"?

"Believe that" typically suggests a stronger conviction than "think that". "Believe" implies a firm acceptance or trust, while "think" can indicate a more tentative opinion.