i thought was

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I thought was" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing a past belief or assumption about something that may not have been accurate or complete. Example: "I thought was the best option turned out to be a mistake."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

Which I thought was great".

The New York Times

That, I thought, was love.

The New York Times

"Adhere," I thought, was easy.

The New York Times - Books

— which I thought was very unfair.

The New Yorker

The medal, I thought, was mine.

The New York Times - Arts

But "Hamlet", I thought, was deeply disappointing.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

"His last spell I thought was exceptional.

The Guardian - Sport

The first thing I thought was, "Oh no, a talker".

The New York Times

This, I thought, was going to be interesting.

The New York Times

This, I thought, was disingenuous.

The Guardian - Books

Mainly, what I thought was that all adults were insane.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "i thought was", ensure the context clearly indicates that you are referring to a past belief or perception that may or may not be accurate now. It's especially useful when contrasting past beliefs with current understanding.

Common error

Avoid using "i think was" when describing a past belief; always use the past tense "thought" to accurately convey the timing of the belief.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "i thought was" functions as a clause opener expressing a retrospective evaluation or belief. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a common and grammatically sound way to introduce a statement about a past perception.

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, the phrase "i thought was" is a grammatically correct and very common way to express a past belief or assessment. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and frequent use. While it appears predominantly in news and media contexts, it maintains a neutral register suitable for various forms of communication. When using this phrase, ensure that you are accurately representing a belief held at a prior time and be mindful of the tense. Consider using alternatives like "i believed it to be" or "i assumed it was" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

i believed it to be

Replaces "thought" with "believed" and uses a more formal structure.

i had assumed it was

Highlights the assumption made in the past.

i considered it as

Emphasizes the act of considering something in the past.

it seemed to me that it was

Adds a layer of uncertainty or personal perspective.

my impression was that it was

Focuses on the impression received at the time.

i had the understanding that it was

Indicates a previous understanding or knowledge.

i was under the impression that it was

Similar to the previous, but emphasizes being mistaken.

i gathered that it was

Suggests inferring something based on available information.

i concluded it was

Implies reaching a conclusion after some thought or consideration.

i had it in mind that it was

Focuses on a thought that was present in one's mind.

FAQs

How can I use "i thought was" in a sentence?

Use "i thought was" to express a past belief or opinion. For example, "I thought was the best option, but now I realize there were better choices."

What are some alternatives to using "i thought was"?

You can use phrases like "i believed it to be", "i assumed it was", or "it seemed to me that it was" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it ever incorrect to use "i thought was"?

The phrase "i thought was" is grammatically correct, but ensure the tense aligns with the context. Avoid using "i think was" when you're referring to a past belief. It should accurately reflect a belief held at a prior time.

What's the difference between "i thought was" and "i believe is"?

"I thought was" refers to a past belief, while "i believe is" expresses a current belief. Use "i thought was" when discussing something you used to believe but may no longer hold true. Use "i believe is" for your present convictions.