from what I remember

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "from what I remember" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase in order to express doubt about an event that you remember, or to emphasize a certain point. For example: "It was two years ago, but from what I remember, they said it would take at least a month to finish the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

"I rather like Mr Darcy, from what I remember.

Independent

From what I remember, there was no ugly screaming (maybe a little).

The New York Times

And, from what I remember back in high school, Avri's "complicated"s are complicated indeed.

The New Yorker

From what I remember of beer-drinking competitions, though, the process involved plastic cups and funnels, not bottles.

The New York Times

From what I remember, his was a little bit quicker and not as big of an arm swing".

The New York Times - Sports

"From what I remember at all the other royal weddings I went to, we were served the best lunch possible".

The New York Times - Food

From what I remember of your home country, it doesn't exist there (Tacky Smell doesn't count).

The Guardian - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

"From what I remembered," Keneally remarks dryly, "Ford Madox Ford hadn't quite delivered on the promise".

The New York Times - Books

I spoke with her that evening, etc. and she relayed to me a sequence of events that was very dissimilar from what I remembered happening.

The New York Times

And we updated it from what I remembered of being twelve, so, for example, 'Kidding!' is a big one in this book, a version of 'Not!' from our youth.

The New Yorker

"But when we played in Salzburg with Blackburn it was just a world away from what I remembered and there could be no excuses from the players.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Incorporate this phrase to soften assertions, particularly when discussing sensitive or contentious topics where precise recall is crucial.

Common error

Avoid beginning multiple consecutive sentences with "from what I remember", as this can make your writing sound hesitant or unsure. Instead, vary your sentence structure and use synonyms like "as I recall" or "if I remember correctly".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "from what I remember" functions as a qualifier, introducing information based on personal recollection. It serves to soften assertions, acknowledging the potential for memory inaccuracies. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's usable for expressing doubt or emphasis.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Academia

19%

Science

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "from what I remember" is a versatile qualifier used to introduce information based on personal recollection, while also acknowledging potential inaccuracies. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is grammatically correct and suitable for expressing doubt or emphasizing a point. It is most commonly found in news articles, academic papers, and general conversation, and less common in more formal or technical writing. While versatile, one should avoid overuse. Remember to use alternative phrases and vary sentence structure to avoid sounding hesitant or unsure.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

if I remember correctly

Adds a more explicit condition of correctness to the recollection.

as far as I can remember

Highlights the limits of memory.

from my recollection

A slightly more formal variant.

what I seem to remember

Highlights uncertainty and the possibility of misremembering.

as I recall

Replaces the entire introductory clause with a more concise version.

based on my recollection

Similar to "from my recollection" but places more emphasis on the foundation of the statement.

if my memory serves me right

Uses a more idiomatic expression to convey uncertainty.

according to my memory

A more literal way of stating reliance on memory.

to the best of my recollection

Emphasizes the effort to remember accurately.

as I understand it

Shifts the focus slightly from memory to understanding, while still implying reliance on past information.

FAQs

How can I use "from what I remember" in a sentence?

You can use "from what I remember" to introduce a statement that relies on your memory, implying a degree of uncertainty. For example, "From what I remember, the meeting was scheduled for Tuesday."

What are some alternatives to "from what I remember"?

Alternatives include "as I recall", "if I remember correctly", or "to the best of my recollection". The choice depends on the context and the level of formality required.

Is it appropriate to use "from what I remember" in formal writing?

While "from what I remember" is generally acceptable, more formal alternatives like "to the best of my recollection" may be preferred in academic or professional contexts.

What does it mean when someone says "from what I remember"?

It means they are basing their statement on their memory but acknowledge that their recollection might not be perfectly accurate or complete.