i thought still

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "i thought still" is not correct in written English due to the lowercase "i" and the lack of context.
It could be used in a context where someone is reflecting on a past thought or belief that remains unchanged. Example: "Even after all this time, I thought still that we would find a solution."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

This is a good story, I thought, still somewhat detached.

The New York Times

Most general managers, I thought, still believed in the old-school philosophy that no baseball player needed a sports psychologist.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

That one, I think, still has potential.

The New Yorker

This point is I think still poorly understood.

The Economist

I think still a bit of that is lingering on".

The New York Times

"I think still this leadership is very post-Mao, if not anti-Mao," said Mr. Delury.

The New York Times

But I think still, it's a matter of age also".

The New York Times - Sports

Both of them I think still have a lot of things to answer".

Independent

So the high-yield sector of the corporate-bond market I think still is attractive.

Forbes

But I also think still very much in play.

The New Yorker

I don't think, still, anybody really knows".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When intending to convey a continued thought, place "still" before the verb (e.g., "I still thought").

Common error

Avoid placing "still" after "thought" when you mean to say you continued to think something. The correct phrasing is generally "I still thought" or "I thought something was still...".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "i thought still" functions as an attempt to express a continuing thought or belief from the speaker's perspective. However, its primary function is hindered by its unconventional word order and the lowercase 'i'. Ludwig indicates this is not correct in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "i thought still" might appear in written text, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect due to the lowercase 'i' and awkward word order. Ludwig suggests that it is "not correct". The intended meaning, a continuing thought or belief, is better conveyed using alternatives like "I still thought" or "I continued to think". Remember to capitalize 'I' and consider placing "still" before the verb for clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I still thought

Corrects the word order for standard English grammar.

I continued to think

Emphasizes the continuation of a thought over time.

I believed still

Focuses on the belief aspect of the thought.

I had always thought

Highlights that the thought has been present for a long time.

I maintained my belief

Stresses the persistence of a specific belief.

I still imagined

Replaces "thought" with a verb suggesting visualization or mental imagery.

I presupposed

Conveys the idea of a prior assumption that continues to hold.

My original thought persisted

Highlights the unchanging nature of the initial idea.

I had in mind still

Expresses the ongoing presence of an idea or plan.

My thinking remained

Focuses on the continuation of a mental process or consideration.

FAQs

What's the correct way to use "I thought still" in a sentence?

The phrase "I thought still" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. A better way to phrase it would be "I still thought" or "I thought it was still...".

What does "I thought still" mean?

It attempts to express that a thought or belief persisted, but the word order is awkward. It's often clearer to say "I still thought" which means the thought continued.

What can I say instead of "I thought still"?

You can use alternatives like "I still thought", "I continued to think", or "I believed still" depending on the intended meaning.

Which is correct, "I thought still" or "I still thought"?

"I still thought" is the correct phrasing in most contexts. "I thought still" is grammatically awkward and not commonly used.