had a suspicion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had a suspicion" is grammatically correct and commonly used in written English.
It is typically used to express a feeling or belief that something is true or likely to happen. Example: "He had a suspicion that his coworkers were planning a surprise party for his birthday."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"But deep down, I had a suspicion".

The New York Times

"I had a suspicion she was interested," he said.

The New York Times

They had a suspicion about what was going wrong.

The New Yorker

Even then, I had a suspicion it wasn't cool.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"I had a suspicion that we would be all right," Bushong said, laughing.

The New York Times - Sports

Still, "I had a suspicion that there may be undiscovered tool users out there," Rutz said.

The Washington Post

By 2am we had a suspicion that it wasn't going to end well.

The Guardian

I had a suspicion that someone in authority might well find these articles and throw them out for the reasons I gave you.

Cornell University

The investigators had a suspicion it was Melissa, but when they obtained DNA samples from Melissa's family.

The Guardian

We had a suspicion of who it might be, because of the resources available, the vertical integration," Elop says.

The Guardian - Tech

He also fitted each turtle with a plastic box that collected its urine, for he had a suspicion that therein lay the key to the mystery.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had a suspicion" when you want to express a feeling or belief that something might be true, without having definite proof. It's suitable for describing a hunch or an intuition.

Common error

While "had a suspicion" is widely understood, consider using more precise language in formal writing to specify the basis of your belief or intuition, such as "deduced", "inferred", or "hypothesized" depending on the context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had a suspicion" functions as a verb phrase expressing a state of mind. It indicates a belief or feeling that something is possibly true, lacking concrete evidence. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and in common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had a suspicion" is a common and grammatically correct way to express a feeling or belief without concrete proof. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's frequently used across various contexts, from news reporting to academic discussions, though it leans towards a neutral register. While versatile, it is essential to consider the formality of your writing and choose more precise language when appropriate. Related phrases like "suspected something" or "harbored a suspicion" can add nuance. Remember to use "had a suspicion" to denote an inkling or hunch, and consider stronger verbs like "inferred" or "deduced" when definitive evidence supports your claim.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

suspected something

Focuses on the action of suspecting, emphasizing the feeling of doubt or mistrust regarding a specific event or thing.

had an inkling

Implies a slight, vague feeling of suspicion or awareness, often based on intuition rather than concrete evidence.

had a hunch

Similar to "had an inkling", but often implies a stronger feeling of certainty or conviction.

harbored a suspicion

Implies a long-held or nurtured feeling of suspicion, suggesting a more profound and enduring doubt.

sensed something amiss

Focuses on perceiving that something is wrong or out of place, suggesting a more general feeling of unease.

entertained a suspicion

Suggests considering a suspicion as a possibility, but without necessarily fully believing it.

presumed something

Suggests forming a belief based on probability or likelihood, without necessarily having strong evidence.

felt a sense of foreboding

Conveys a feeling that something bad is going to happen, a more negative and intense form of suspicion.

surmised something

Implies forming an opinion or judgment based on incomplete information or guesswork.

anticipated something

Suggests expecting something to happen, often based on prior knowledge or experience.

FAQs

How can I use "had a suspicion" in a sentence?

You can use "had a suspicion" to indicate that you believed something might be true even without firm evidence. For example, "She /s/had+a+suspicion about her coworker's sudden success."

What's a more formal way to say "had a suspicion"?

In formal contexts, you might prefer alternatives like "inferred", "surmised", or "presumed" to convey a more precise nuance than the general "/s/had+a+suspicion".

Is it ever incorrect to use "had a suspicion"?

While grammatically correct, "/s/had+a+suspicion" may be too informal or vague for academic or professional writing. Consider stronger verbs if you possess concrete evidence.

What is the difference between "had a suspicion" and "knew"?

"Knew" implies certainty and confirmed knowledge, whereas "/s/had+a+suspicion" suggests a belief or feeling without definitive proof.