had previously believed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had previously believed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a past belief that has since changed or been reconsidered. Example: "She had previously believed that the project would succeed, but new evidence suggested otherwise."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

He had previously believed that if you came up with a great idea people would use it.

The New Yorker

Scientists had previously believed that the crustacean lived only in the top 150 m (490 ft) of the Southern Ocean.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Declining house prices will be another blow to consumption as homeowners recognise that they have lost even more wealth than their had previously believed.

The Guardian - Opinion

But it also implied an even greater admission: that Britain was more individualistic, more aspirational and less collectivist than Labour had previously believed.

The Economist

It can be described as an effort to push down interest rates by convincing investors that the economy will remain weaker for longer than they had previously believed.

The New York Times

It came as no surprise on Tuesday when the Federal Reserve said that the economy was in a more precarious state than it had previously believed.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

"Some maybe have previously believed classic cannabis scaremongering such as 'one toke and you go mad/become a heroin addict'.

The Guardian

And, since perennials account for 16% of American agriculture, green methods may yield more greenbacks than many sceptics have previously believed.

The Economist

"It shows that Stone Age society was far more sophisticated than we have previously believed," said Richard Bates, a geophysicist at the University of St. Andrews who was involved with the discovery.

The New York Times - Science

"Having previously believed former leaders' assurances of their innocence, the firm is now seeking to find a fair and appropriate resolution of remaining issues so that we can continue our work on behalf of injured investors and consumers," Sanford Dumain, a member of Milberg Weiss's executive committee, said in the statement.

The New York Times

"This means that the variability is lower than many people have previously believed," she says.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had previously believed" to clearly indicate a change in understanding or perspective, often in light of new information or evidence. This is particularly useful in academic writing or when correcting a misconception.

Common error

Avoid using the present tense with "previously believed" if the belief is still held. Ensure the tense accurately reflects that the belief is no longer current.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had previously believed" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect tense, indicating a belief that was held at some point in the past but is no longer valid. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Encyclopedias

17%

Science

11%

Less common in

Wiki

9%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had previously believed" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote a past belief that is no longer held. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for a wide range of formal contexts like news, encyclopedias, and science, signaling a shift in understanding. When using this phrase, ensure that the tense accurately reflects the change in belief and consider alternatives like "formerly thought" or "once assumed" to fine-tune the meaning. This phrase is more common in neutral to formal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had once believed

Uses "once" to emphasize the past nature of the belief.

had earlier thought

Similar to "had previously believed" with a slight change in word order.

at first believed

Highlights that the belief was held at the beginning but not anymore.

formerly thought

Replaces "believed" with "thought" and "previously" with "formerly", emphasizing a past idea.

previously understood

Focuses on understanding rather than belief, indicating a change in comprehension.

earlier considered

Emphasizes a past consideration that has been superseded.

formerly held the opinion

A more formal alternative, replacing "believed" with "held the opinion".

once assumed

Substitutes "believed" with "assumed", suggesting the idea was taken for granted.

initially supposed

Implies the belief was a starting point that later changed.

used to think

Replaces the formal "had previously believed" with a more informal expression.

FAQs

How can I use "had previously believed" in a sentence?

Use "had previously believed" to show a change in understanding. For example, "Scientists "had previously believed" the Earth was flat, but now know it's an oblate spheroid."

What can I say instead of "had previously believed"?

You can use alternatives like "formerly thought", "once assumed", or "used to think" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "had previously believed" or "previously believed"?

"Had previously believed" is generally more correct when emphasizing that the belief was held in the past and has since changed. "Previously believed" might be acceptable in some contexts, but the past perfect construction with "had" is usually clearer.

What's the difference between "had previously believed" and "now believe"?

"Had previously believed" refers to a past belief that is no longer held, while "now believe" indicates a current belief. The contrast emphasizes a shift in understanding. For example, "They "had previously believed" in the tooth fairy, but they now believe in Santa Claus."