here I was thinking

USAGE SUMMARY

"here I was thinking" is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used to show that you are expressing your feelings about a situation. For example, "Here I was thinking that the party had been cancelled, when all of a sudden everyone started to arrive."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

Here I was thinking I was quite prolific".

The New Yorker

"Here I was thinking even clothes would have been better".

The New York Times

"Here I was thinking, 'I've got it made,' " he said.

The New York Times

And here I was thinking the hard part was being a soldier in a war zone!

The Guardian - TV & Radio

And here I was, thinking that the days of calling people names on the Internet were all in the past.

The New York Times

"And here I was thinking that you got beat up over a girl," Shikma says, laughing, and brings me my espresso.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

CS: I think they come together at the point of absence--and here, I'm thinking particularly of Suzanne Doppelt's work, which includes photographs.

Huffington Post

Here I am thinking it's summer, when of course it's not".

The New York Times - Style

"Here, I'm thinking about these victims all the time," she added, her voice trailing off.

The New York Times

And here I am thinking about Saira and the Badger missing out in previous years.

The Guardian

I had been this big atheist, but here I am thinking that the rapture is about to start and that I'm the Antichrist — all this religious imagery".

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "here I was thinking" to introduce a contrast between a previous assumption and a new realization or unexpected situation.

Common error

Avoid using "here I was thinking" for simple statements of thought without an element of surprise or contrast. It's best suited when there's a twist or unexpected turn of events.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "here I was thinking" primarily functions as an introductory phrase to set up a contrast or express a feeling of surprise or irony. As supported by Ludwig, it indicates a disparity between a prior belief or expectation and a current realization.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "here I was thinking" is a useful introductory expression to convey surprise, irony, or a contrast between expectation and reality. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and its common usage in news and media contexts. Remember to reserve it for situations where there's a noticeable discrepancy between what you initially believed and what actually happened. Alternatives like "I had been thinking" or "Little did I know" can be used depending on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I was operating under the assumption that

Highlights that a decision or action was based on an incorrect assumption.

Little did I know

Emphasizes the speaker's lack of awareness at the time of the thought.

Contrary to what I thought

Introduces a statement that contradicts the speaker's previous thought.

I was under the impression that

Indicates a mistaken belief or assumption.

I mistakenly believed

Directly states that the speaker's belief was incorrect.

I wrongly assumed

Acknowledges an incorrect assumption made by the speaker.

I had been thinking

Focuses on the speaker's prior thought process without the element of surprise.

I had it in my mind that

Emphasizes the speaker's conviction in their previous thought.

I originally thought

Emphasizes the initial thought, contrasting with a later realization.

I used to think

Highlights a past belief that has since changed.

FAQs

How can I use "here I was thinking" in a sentence?

Use "here I was thinking" to introduce a contrast between a prior assumption and a subsequent realization. For example, "Here I was thinking the job was mine, but they hired someone else."

What's a good alternative to "here I was thinking"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "I had been thinking", "I used to think", or "Little did I know".

Is "here I was thinking" formal or informal?

"Here I was thinking" is generally considered informal and is best suited for casual conversations or less formal writing. For business or academic contexts, consider more direct alternatives.

When is it not appropriate to use "here I was thinking"?

Avoid using "here I was thinking" when simply stating a fact or opinion without an element of surprise or irony. It's most effective when highlighting a contrast between expectation and reality.