grounds to believe

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "grounds to believe" is correct and usable in written English, and it is typically used when expressing the basis for a belief or an opinion.
For example, "The investigator had grounds to believe that the crime had been committed by someone close to the victim."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But in Obama's case, there are grounds to believe him.

Independent

We have serious grounds to believe this was a provocation," Mr. Lavrov said.

The New York Times

Still believes there are "serious grounds" to believe Syrian chem weapons attack was "provocation".

The New York Times

But there are grounds to believe that he has violated plenty of international laws.

The Economist

According to the judge there were strong grounds to believe he had been caught lying.

The Guardian

As for Estemirova, "There are very solid grounds to believe there was governmental involvement," Lokshina says.

The Guardian

He insisted there are serious grounds to believe the attack was a "provocation".

The Guardian

There are also grounds to believe that senior management would be inclined to accept an offer.

The Guardian - Business

Second, it said there were "reasonable grounds to believe a criminal offence may have been committed".

The Guardian

She also said the police believed there were "reasonable grounds" to believe offences had been committed.

The Guardian

I have grounds to believe that the Hong Kong government had no authority over this case.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "grounds to believe" to introduce an opinion or inference when you have supporting evidence, but not necessarily definitive proof.

Common error

Avoid using "grounds to believe" when the evidence is overwhelming or definitive. In such cases, a more assertive statement may be appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "grounds to believe" functions as an idiomatic expression used to indicate that there are reasons or evidence supporting a particular belief or suspicion. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a correct and usable phrase. Examples from Ludwig demonstrate its use in both formal and informal contexts, implying a reasoned inference.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

82%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "grounds to believe" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to indicate that there are reasons or evidence supporting a particular belief. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and usable. It frequently appears in News & Media sources, and has a neutral to professional register. When writing, be sure to provide the reasons or evidence that serve as the “grounds” for the belief, as clearly stating the supporting reasons strengthens the statement's credibility. Although other similar phrases exist, such as "reasons to think", be careful to select an alternative that reflects a similar level of conviction to your original statement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reasons to think

Replaces 'believe' with 'think', suggesting a slightly less firm conviction.

basis for believing

Emphasizes the foundation or support for the belief.

reason to suppose

Suggests a tentative acceptance of something without firm proof.

justification for believing

Highlights the act of defending or warranting the belief.

cause to think

Indicates a reason or motive for considering something.

evidence to suggest

Focuses on the available proof that supports a particular idea.

rationale for believing

Highlights the logical basis for the belief.

reason to assume

Implies taking something for granted, usually without conclusive proof.

presumption to believe

Highlights an assumption made before having all the facts.

justification for assuming

Emphasizes the reason given to defend the action of assuming something.

FAQs

How can I use "grounds to believe" in a sentence?

Use "grounds to believe" when you want to express that there are reasons or evidence supporting a particular belief. For example, "The detective had "grounds to believe" the suspect was lying".

What are some alternatives to "grounds to believe"?

You can use alternatives such as "reasons to think", "basis for believing", or "evidence to suggest" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. See other alternatives "here", "here", and "here".

Is it more appropriate to say "grounds to believe" or "reasons to believe"?

Both "grounds to believe" and "reasons to believe" are acceptable. "Grounds" often implies a more formal or legal context, while "reasons" is generally more informal. For similar alternatives see "reasons to believe".

When should I avoid using "grounds to believe"?

Avoid using "grounds to believe" when the evidence is already definitive or irrefutable. It's best used when presenting an inference based on available, but not conclusive, information.