have a feeling

USAGE SUMMARY

"have a feeling" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express an opinion that is based on intuition or instinct, instead of on facts. Example: I have a feeling that we will have a pleasant day today.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

But I have a feeling".

The New Yorker

"You have a feeling".

The New York Times - Sports

I have a feeling he does".

The New Yorker

I have a feeling that she will.

The Guardian

You have a feeling of emptiness.

The New York Times

"I have a feeling of complete balance.

The New Yorker

I have a feeling she does.

The New York Times - Arts

"I don't have a feeling".

The New Yorker

I don't have a feeling on that".

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

It what we all have - a feeling.

WikiHow

I have a feeling…not.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have a feeling" to express an intuition or hunch, especially when you lack concrete evidence. For example, "I have a feeling this project will be successful, even though it's still in the early stages."

Common error

Avoid relying solely on "have a feeling" when making critical decisions. Always strive to gather evidence and data to support your intuitions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have a feeling" functions as an idiomatic expression used to convey a subjective belief, intuition, or hunch about a situation or outcome. It indicates a personal sense or premonition that is not necessarily based on concrete evidence. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

20%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "have a feeling" is a versatile expression used to convey an intuition or hunch, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It's grammatically correct and frequently appears in diverse contexts, primarily in news and media, but also in scientific and informal writing. While it's a useful way to express personal beliefs or predictions, it's important to remember that it is still based on intuition, therefore providing more context of the reason for your feeling, if there's more evidence of it that can be cited, and the confidence of that feeling is crucial. While it's generally neutral, it is not something generally used in Academic writings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have a hunch

Replaces "feeling" with "hunch", implying a strong intuitive guess.

have a premonition

Substitutes "feeling" with "premonition", suggesting a sense of foreboding about the future.

sense something

Uses "sense" instead of "have a feeling", indicating an intuitive awareness.

suspect something

Replaces the expression with "suspect", implying a belief based on limited evidence.

intuit something

Uses "intuit" to convey understanding something instinctively, without conscious reasoning.

get the impression

Emphasizes the formation of an opinion or belief based on indirect evidence.

have a sneaking suspicion

Adds "sneaking" to "suspicion", suggesting a hidden or reluctant belief.

believe in my gut

Refers to a "gut" feeling, implying a strong, instinctive belief.

foresee something

Suggests an ability to see or predict something in the future.

anticipate something

Indicates expecting or predicting something will happen.

FAQs

How can I use "have a feeling" in a sentence?

You can use "have a feeling" to express an intuition or a hunch about something. For example, "I "have a feeling" that it's going to rain later today" or "I "have a feeling" she's not telling the whole story".

What's the difference between "have a feeling" and "have a hunch"?

While both phrases express intuition, ""have a feeling"" is a more general expression of intuition, whereas "have a hunch" often suggests a stronger, more specific intuitive guess.

What can I say instead of "have a feeling" to sound more formal?

In more formal contexts, you could use phrases like "I suspect", "I anticipate", or "I have a premonition", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "have a feeling" in professional writing?

While ""have a feeling"" is generally acceptable in professional communication, it's best to use it sparingly and to support your intuition with data or evidence whenever possible. If you don't have the data, you could also consider alternatives such as "I believe" or "I expect".