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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
it really believed
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "it really believed" is not correct in standard written English as it lacks a clear subject and context.
It could be used in a context where a subject is implied or previously mentioned, but it is generally incomplete on its own. Example: "In the end, it really believed that the outcome would be positive."
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
News & Media
The Guardian - Books
TechCrunch
Alternative expressions(20)
it quite was
it actually believed
it was nevertheless
it really belonged
evidently it was
it definitely was
specifically it was
rather it was
it honestly was
it was doubtless
truly it was
it was indeed
it was yes
really it was
indeed it was
it was exactly
precisely it was
it certainly was
it was actually
actually it was
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
4 human-written examples
He said Labour under Ed Miliband had not spelt out what it really believed.
News & Media
The government's policy is unfair, punitive and discriminatory: if it really believed in amnesty, it would let people with non-violent records for possession lead the way.
News & Media
There were interfaith centres, where Protestants and Catholics shared the facility with Jewish congregations; there were bike paths everywhere – it was distinctive and different and the people who built it really believed in it".
News & Media
Twitter claimed it was just removing a feature that relatively few people used, but if it really believed that, it should have stuck with it.
News & Media
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
56 human-written examples
Does it really believe private donation will be sufficient to meet the growing need?
News & Media
'FRANCESCA DA RIMINI' The Met reserves runs of Riccardo Zandonai's infectiously dramatic verismo rarity for divas it really believes in.
News & Media
The people who really believe in it really believe in it, but there are a lot of people that they will have to persuade.
News & Media
If it really believes that, it will impose the death penalty on Penn State, to send a signal that no school should put football above its own integrity.
News & Media
Does it really believe Palestinian outrages will change so-called international opinion toward Israel?
News & Media
Maybe it really believes the performance is simply not up to par?
News & Media
"And I really believed it," he said.
News & Media
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Consider replacing "really" with stronger synonyms such as "truly", "genuinely", or "firmly" to add emphasis and clarity to your writing.
Common error
Avoid starting sentences with "it really believed" without a clear prior reference for 'it'. Always ensure the pronoun's antecedent is obvious to the reader.
Source & Trust
89%
Authority and reliability
3.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "it really believed" functions as a clause expressing conviction or certainty. Ludwig AI notes it needs context to be correct. Examples in Ludwig show it typically introduces a belief held by the subject, often in contrast to other information.
Frequent in
News & Media
75%
Academia
25%
Formal & Business
0%
Less common in
Science
0%
Encyclopedias
0%
Wiki
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, the phrase "it really believed" expresses a strong conviction. According to Ludwig AI, its grammatical correctness is questionable without a prior context, so ensure 'it' is well defined. The phrase appears mostly in news and media contexts, carrying a neutral tone. Related phrases include "it genuinely believed" or "it truly believed". To enhance clarity, always ensure a clear subject and consider stronger synonyms for "really". Despite some grammatical considerations, the phrase effectively conveys a deep-seated belief. The relatively low frequency of the phrase suggests that writers might prefer alternative phrasings for enhanced precision.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
it genuinely believed
Replaces "really" with "genuinely" to emphasize sincerity and conviction.
it truly believed
Substitutes "really" with "truly" to highlight the authenticity of the belief.
it firmly believed
Emphasizes the strength and resoluteness of the belief using "firmly".
it honestly believed
Replaces "really" with "honestly" to underscore the sincerity and lack of deception in the belief.
it sincerely believed
Uses "sincerely" instead of "really" to convey the genuine nature of the belief.
it actually believed
Replaces "really" with "actually" suggesting that belief was surprising or unexpected.
it wholeheartedly believed
Adds "wholeheartedly" to stress the completeness and depth of the belief.
it seriously believed
Employs "seriously" in place of "really" to indicate the gravity with which the belief was held.
it deeply believed
Uses "deeply" to indicate the profundity and intensity of the belief.
it was convinced
Shifts the focus to a state of being convinced, rather than actively believing.
FAQs
What does "it really believed" mean?
The phrase "it really believed" suggests a strong conviction or certainty held by someone or something (represented by "it") regarding a particular idea, concept, or fact.
What are some alternatives to "it really believed"?
You can use alternatives like "it genuinely believed", "it truly believed", or "it firmly believed" to express a similar meaning with slightly different emphasis.
Is "it really believed" grammatically correct?
Ludwig AI suggests that "it really believed" is not considered entirely correct in standard written English without a clear subject or context. While understandable, it's often better to ensure the subject is clearly defined for better clarity. Using alternatives such as "it truly believed" doesn't change the need of having a proper context.
How can I use "it really believed" effectively in a sentence?
To use "it really believed" effectively, ensure that the 'it' refers to a specific entity or concept already introduced in the context. For example, "Despite the evidence, the company it really believed its product was safe".
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
89%
Authority and reliability
3.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested