i thought of him

USAGE SUMMARY

"I thought of him" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It can be used in various contexts, but it typically means that the speaker is remembering or considering someone in their thoughts. Here are a few examples of how it could be used: - "Every time I pass by the old coffee shop, I can't help but think of him. We used to go there every Saturday morning." - "I thought of him while I was reading this article about his favorite hobby." - "When I heard that he got a promotion, I couldn't help but think of him and how hard he worked for it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

I thought of him as indestructible.

The New York Times

Nevertheless I thought of him.

The Guardian - Opinion

I thought of him on his deathbed.

The New York Times

I thought of him when I saw Sarah Palin.

The New York Times - Books

For years I thought of him as a failure.

The New Yorker

I thought of him living there alone, like Rochester.

The New Yorker

"I told him what I thought of him".

The New York Times

I thought of him as the samurai of Zionism.

The New Yorker

I thought of him as a kind of wonderful inventor.

The New Yorker

I thought of him as the man, really.

The Guardian - Music

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

I think of him as literally undiscussable".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "i thought of him" to indicate a spontaneous recall or consideration of someone, often triggered by a specific event or context.

Common error

Avoid using "i think of him" when referring to a past, one-time occurrence. "I think of him" implies a habitual or ongoing thought process.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "i thought of him" functions as a statement expressing a past mental action. It indicates that the speaker had the person in their thoughts at some point. As noted by Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "i thought of him" is a grammatically sound and widely used phrase that expresses a past mental action, indicating that someone came to the speaker's mind. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage across various contexts, especially in news and media. While versatile, it's important to use the correct tense and consider alternative phrases like "i had him in mind" or "he crossed my mind" for nuances in meaning or formality. The phrase serves to share memories, explain connections, or provide context, making it a valuable part of everyday communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

i had him in mind

Changes the verb and preposition while retaining the core meaning of considering someone.

he crossed my mind

Employs a different idiom to convey the fleeting thought of someone.

i remembered him

Focuses on the act of recalling someone from memory.

i was reminded of him

Highlights the trigger that caused the person to come to mind.

he came to my mind

Uses a different verb to express the idea of someone entering one's thoughts.

i gave him some thought

Shifts the focus to the conscious effort of thinking about someone.

i spared a thought for him

Implies a brief or momentary consideration of someone.

my thoughts turned to him

Emphasizes the direction of one's thoughts toward a specific person.

i reflected on him

Suggests a more contemplative or deeper consideration of someone.

i had him on my mind

Uses a slightly different word order to express the state of thinking about someone.

FAQs

How can I use "i thought of him" in a sentence?

Use "i thought of him" to describe a moment when someone came to your mind. For example, "I thought of him when I heard his favorite song on the radio."

What's a more formal way to say "i thought of him"?

While "i thought of him" is suitable for most situations, you could use "he crossed my mind" or "i remembered him" in more formal contexts.

What can I say instead of "i thought of him" to emphasize a strong emotional connection?

If you want to convey a deeper emotional connection, consider alternatives such as "i had him in mind" or "my thoughts turned to him".

Is there a difference between "i thought of him" and "i was thinking of him"?

"I thought of him" suggests a brief or spontaneous thought, while "I was thinking of him" implies a more prolonged or deliberate consideration.