had formerly thought

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had formerly thought" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a past belief or opinion that has since changed. Example: "I had formerly thought that the project would take only a month, but it ended up taking much longer."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Don said that despite the lack of attention I had given the garden, it had "good bones" as well as "good air movement" (something I had formerly thought of as "a breeze") and that while the owner before me had made some mistakes, several plants were thriving, like a group of hardy hostas and a healthy-looking andromeda, and he planned to keep these, along with the prized aucuba.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

RH: Increasingly, hotels must understand that we are here to play, and compete for consumers that they may have formerly thought were squarely 'theirs.' That is not to say we compete directly in all cases, because we are still different products.

HuffPost

On the other hand, supposed differences between Alexandrian and Palestinian Judaism are not as great as had been formerly thought.

Encyclopedia Britannica

As an example, animals which cooperate to remove ectoparasites from each other by allogrooming have formerly been thought to be in a Prisoner's Dilemma [ 31, 32].

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Chess is not the only field where computers have achieved success formerly thought to be achievable only through human creativity.

The New York Times - Arts

At long last, we thought, America's greatest museum had come to terms with the art of its time, which it had formerly either marginalized or ignored.

The New Yorker

It had formerly been 6,000.

The New York Times

He had he had formerly published in Nashville, Tennesee.

The New Yorker

WHO had formerly controlled the area and its people?

The New York Times

She was 45 and had formerly lived in Edinburgh and London.

The New York Times

Scotland had formerly been strong Labour Party territory.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had formerly thought" to clearly indicate a shift in understanding or perspective, contrasting a previous belief with a current one. It's particularly effective when emphasizing a change based on new information or experiences.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "had formerly thought" can sound overly formal in casual conversation or informal writing. Opt for simpler alternatives like "used to think" or "once thought" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had formerly thought" functions as an adverbial phrase indicating a past belief or opinion that is no longer held. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and serves to contrast a previous perspective with a current understanding. The examples showcase its use in diverse contexts, highlighting its versatility.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

29%

Science

25%

Less common in

Wiki

13%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had formerly thought" is a grammatically sound and versatile phrase used to express a past belief or opinion that has since changed. As Ludwig AI pointed out, it is more suited for formal and neutral contexts like news articles, encyclopedias, and scientific papers. While alternatives like "previously believed" or "once thought" exist, "had formerly thought" provides a specific nuance of indicating a shift in understanding based on new information or experiences. It's important to avoid overuse in informal contexts to maintain a natural and appropriate tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

formerly believed

Synonymous, replacing "thought" with "believed".

had previously considered

Combines the elements of previous consideration.

once thought

A more concise way to express a past belief.

previously believed

Focuses on the belief aspect, omitting the aspect of thinking.

once assumed

A shorter, more direct form of expressing a past assumption.

earlier considered

Emphasizes the act of considering something in the past.

at first thought

Focuses on the initial thought process.

initially assumed

Highlights the assumption made at the beginning.

used to think

A more informal and common way to express a past belief.

mistakenly believed

Highlights that the past belief was incorrect.

FAQs

How can I use "had formerly thought" in a sentence?

Use "had formerly thought" to express a past belief or opinion that has since changed. For example: "I "had formerly thought" that the project would take only a month, but it ended up taking much longer."

What are some alternatives to "had formerly thought"?

You can use alternatives like "previously believed", "once thought", or "formerly believed" depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is "had formerly thought" more formal than "used to think"?

Yes, "had formerly thought" is generally more formal than "used to think". The former is better suited for academic or professional writing, while the latter is more appropriate for casual conversation or informal writing.

What's the difference between "had formerly thought" and "mistakenly believed"?

"Mistakenly believed" emphasizes that the past belief was incorrect. "Had formerly thought" simply indicates a change in belief without necessarily implying that the previous belief was wrong.