many thought that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "many thought that" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing a common belief or opinion held by a group of people about a particular subject or event. Example: "Many thought that the new policy would lead to significant improvements in employee satisfaction."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

46 human-written examples

When the Sony Xperia Z arrived at the beginning of the year, many thought that was it.

Independent

Many thought that massacre was in retaliation against a previous attack on the armed forces by some suspected militants.

The Guardian - Books

Many thought that most of the money went elsewhere and that the East Midlands is being short-changed.

BBC

"Many thought that we were like Parmalat".

The Economist

Many thought that it would empty out Italian museums".

The New Yorker

Many thought that the Philippines were the likely first target.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

14 human-written examples

Many think that would be the best outcome for Turkey.

The Economist

How many think that will reduce the demand for gas?

The New York Times

Many think that Dallas, Texas is named for George Mifflin Dallas 1810, James Polk's vice president.

Princeton University

One authority says supplies will last 100 years; many think that is conservative.

The Economist

Many think that, because water falls from the sky, it should be free.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "many thought that", ensure that the statement reflects a genuinely held widespread belief and is supported by evidence, rather than presenting it as a fact.

Common error

Avoid using "many thought that" when only a small group held that belief. Ensure your claim reflects a substantial portion of the population or relevant group.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "many thought that" functions as an introductory clause that sets the stage for reporting a widely held belief, opinion, or assumption. As Ludwig AI reports, this construction is grammatically sound and appears frequently in writing. It introduces what people generally believed to be true at some point in time.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

59%

Academia

25%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Science

4%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "many thought that" is a grammatically sound and very common introductory clause used to report a widespread belief or opinion. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and frequent appearance across varied sources. It's predominantly used in news and media contexts, followed by academia and encyclopedias, with a neutral formality level. When using this phrase, it's crucial to ensure the claim reflects a genuinely held widespread belief supported by evidence and to avoid overgeneralizations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a common belief was that

This alternative replaces "many thought" with "a common belief", focusing on the shared nature of the idea.

the prevailing opinion was that

This phrase uses "prevailing opinion" to emphasize the widespread acceptance of the idea.

it was widely believed that

This alternative highlights the broad acceptance of the idea with "widely believed".

the general consensus was that

This phrase indicates a unanimous agreement or understanding of a particular fact or idea.

it was generally considered that

This version emphasizes the idea was thoughtfully assessed and accepted by a broad audience.

a lot of people assumed that

This suggests the thought was based on assumption rather than concrete proof.

most people presumed that

This implies the thought was taken for granted without thorough examination.

the common wisdom was that

Here, "common wisdom" suggests the idea is part of conventional knowledge.

popular understanding held that

This alternative highlights the general public's perception or grasp of the matter.

the dominant view was that

This emphasizes the thought was more powerful or influential than other possible views.

FAQs

How can I use "many thought that" in a sentence?

You can use "many thought that" to introduce a belief widely held at a specific time or among a particular group. For example, "Many thought that the internet was just a passing fad in the early 1990s."

What are some alternatives to "many thought that"?

Alternatives include phrases like "a common belief was that", "it was widely believed that", or "the prevailing opinion was that", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it always necessary to provide evidence when using the phrase "many thought that"?

While not always mandatory, providing context or evidence after using "many thought that" strengthens your statement and prevents it from sounding like an unsupported generalization. Doing so can also give clues that support the claim.

What's the difference between "many thought that" and "some thought that"?

"Many thought that" implies a large number of people held a particular belief, while "some thought that" suggests the belief was less widespread. Using one over the other depends on the scale of belief.