i started to doubt

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I started to doubt" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing a shift in your confidence or belief about something, often in a narrative or reflective context. Example: "As the project progressed, I started to doubt whether we would meet the deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

I started to doubt a little bit.

The Guardian - Film

As a teenager I started to doubt this theological story.

The New York Times

I started to doubt what I'd written in those articles.

The New York Times - Magazine

"Last season was a bad time and I started to doubt myself," said Gooch.

The Guardian - Sport

"I started to doubt my own ability because he was making me look incompetent.

The Guardian

But as I waited for them I started to doubt myself.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

Mark helps me stay positive when I start to doubt my playing or I become discouraged.

The New York Times

The third quarter made things a little tighter, I start to doubt the Pendulum, It's 12-7.

Huffington Post

For the first time in my 50 years on this earth, I have started to doubt that I will see a woman president in my lifetime.

Huffington Post

I've been saying it so long I've started to doubt my own words.

Los Angeles Times

It was a tense conversation, and on the way home from the market I really started to doubt myself.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase “I started to doubt” to express a turning point in your confidence or beliefs about something, particularly when narrating a personal experience or reflection. It effectively conveys a shift from certainty to uncertainty.

Common error

While "I started to doubt" is useful, avoid repetitive use in close proximity. Vary your language with synonyms like "I began to question" or "I had reservations" to maintain reader engagement and clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase “I started to doubt” functions as an intransitive verb phrase indicating a change in one's state of mind. As Ludwig confirms, this phrase is grammatically sound and conveys a shift from certainty to uncertainty.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

71%

Formal & Business

29%

Science

0%

Less common in

Social Media

0%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase “I started to doubt” is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to convey a shift in one's beliefs or confidence. As Ludwig confirms, it's effective in expressing uncertainty or skepticism, especially in personal narratives or reflections. While frequently found in news and media contexts, it's essential to use synonyms and vary language to avoid repetition. Alternatives such as "I began to question" or "I had reservations" can provide subtle differences in meaning and enhance writing clarity. When writing consider that, according to Ludwig, “I started to doubt” functions as a verb phrase indicating a change in one's state of mind.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I began to question

Focuses more on the act of questioning rather than a feeling of doubt.

I started questioning

Similar to 'I began to question', but with a sense of initiating a questioning process.

I began to have doubts

Emphasizes the emergence of multiple doubts, rather than a single instance.

I started to have reservations

Implies a more cautious or hesitant feeling, often about a specific decision or plan.

I began doubting

A more concise phrasing, directly expressing the start of the doubting process.

I found myself doubting

Highlights the involuntary nature of the doubt, as if it arose unexpectedly.

I started to waver

Suggests a weakening of resolve or commitment, rather than intellectual doubt.

My confidence began to wane

Indicates a decrease in self-assurance, which may or may not be related to specific doubts.

I lost faith

Suggests a complete loss of belief or trust, a stronger sentiment than simply starting to doubt.

I had second thoughts

Implies a reconsideration of a previous decision, prompting doubts about its correctness.

FAQs

How can I use "I started to doubt" in a sentence?

You can use "I started to doubt" to express a change in your belief or confidence. For example: "As the evidence mounted, I started to doubt my initial hypothesis."

What's a good alternative to "I started to doubt"?

Alternatives include "I began to question", "I started questioning", or "I had reservations", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it correct to say "I began to doubt" instead of "I started to doubt"?

Yes, both "I began to doubt" and "I started to doubt" are grammatically correct and convey similar meanings. The choice often depends on stylistic preference.

What's the difference between "I started to doubt" and "I doubted"?

"I started to doubt" implies a process or a point in time when your doubts began. "I doubted" simply states that you had doubts, without specifying when they began. The former is used when the onset of doubt is important to the narrative.