into believing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "into believing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe someone being tricked or persuaded into a particular belief. For example, "She was convinced into believing she could not succeed without her parents' help."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Empathy beguiles us into believing so.

The New Yorker

He bullied you into believing in him.

The Guardian - Sport

We've been propagandised into believing that bureaucracy means civil servants.

The Guardian - Books

How do they trick people into believing them?

Independent

But he misleads the country into believing otherwise.

The New York Times

It can galvanise a nation into believing in itself.

The Guardian

It's easy to talk yourself into believing someone is guilty".

The New York Times

He gulled others into believing he was bigger than Jesus.

The Guardian - Books

Our government might succeed in fooling us into believing that efficiency savings are not health cuts.

The Guardian

They have talked themselves into believing they are part of the entertainment.

The New York Times - Sports

So they talked themselves into believing what Morsi was telling them.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "into believing" to clearly convey the idea that someone was influenced, whether through persuasion or deception, to adopt a particular belief. Be mindful of the context to ensure the nuance is appropriate.

Common error

When using "into believing", ensure it's clear who is doing the influencing. Avoid ambiguous passive constructions that obscure the source of persuasion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "into believing" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb, adverb, or adjective. It indicates the result of an action that causes someone to adopt a specific belief, often through persuasion or deception. Ludwig provides numerous examples of this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Wiki

33%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "into believing" is a common and grammatically correct construction used to indicate that someone has been persuaded or deceived into adopting a particular belief. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely used across various contexts, especially in news and media. When using this phrase, be mindful of the context to ensure clarity and avoid ambiguity. Alternatives like "persuaded that" or "led to believe" can provide nuanced variations. The examples provided by Ludwig demonstrate its versatility and frequency in contemporary English writing, making it a valuable tool for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to be deceived into

Emphasizes the act of being tricked into a belief.

to be fooled into

Stresses the simplicity of the trickery involved.

to be led to believe

Highlights the act of being guided towards a belief, often passively.

to be persuaded that

Emphasizes the act of convincing someone about something.

to be convinced of

Focuses on the state of being persuaded, rather than the process.

to be given to understand that

Implies that information was conveyed leading to a belief.

to be under the impression that

Suggests a belief that may or may not be accurate.

to be indoctrinated with

Suggests a systematic and often forceful instilling of beliefs.

to be brainwashed into

Implies manipulative and coercive persuasion.

to have faith in

Denotes strong trust or confidence in something.

FAQs

How can I use "into believing" in a sentence?

You can use "into believing" to show that someone was persuaded or tricked into accepting something as true. For example: "The advertisement lured customers "into believing" the product would solve all their problems."

What are some alternatives to "into believing"?

Alternatives include "persuaded that", "led to believe", "tricked into", or "convinced that". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "believe" or "believing" after "into"?

The correct form is "believing" because "into" is a preposition, and prepositions are followed by gerunds (verbs ending in -ing) or nouns. Therefore, ""into believing"" is grammatically correct.

What's the difference between "deceived into believing" and "persuaded into believing"?

"Deceived "into believing"" implies trickery or dishonesty, while "persuaded "into believing"" suggests influence through reason or argument. The former has a negative connotation, while the latter can be neutral.