my original plan

USAGE SUMMARY

"my original plan" is a perfectly acceptable phrase used in written English.
You can use it when referring to an earlier plan, or idea. For example: "My original plan was to go to the beach, but the weather was too cold for swimming."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

My original plan now looks like a delusional fantasy.

The New York Times

I decided to stick to my original plan.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

My original plan had been to create a kind of static tableau.

The Guardian - Arts

So I decided to put aside my original plan and settled in to enjoy the music myself.

The New York Times - Travel

And so Independence Day, after some considerable pre-writing adjustments to my original plan, came into existence.

The Guardian - Books

"Last week, he was doing so well, I contemplated giving him three breezes, but I decided to stick to my original plan.

The New York Times

"My original plan was to cook maybe ten thousand meals a day for five days, and then return home," Andrés writes.

The Washington Post

I have to begin by saying my original plan for this visit was to focus on our agenda to help small businesses and entrepreneurs.

The Washington Post

My original plan was to send audio from the microphones with a small micro controller that has bluetooth or wifi connection on it.

University of California, Berkeley

My original plan was to focus my final project on civic mapping, but I realized it was way too broad of a topic.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

My original plan to work for two years before graduate school had crashed and burned.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing changes to a project or situation, use "my original plan" to clearly contrast it with the current course of action.

Common error

Avoid using "my original plan" when referring to minor adjustments or slight deviations. This phrase is most effective when describing significant changes or complete reversals of a previously established strategy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "my original plan" primarily functions as a noun phrase. It identifies a specific plan that was conceived at an earlier point in time. Ludwig AI shows this use in various sentences where the original intention is contrasted with a subsequent action or decision.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Academia

14%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "my original plan" is a versatile phrase suitable for various contexts. It functions as a noun phrase to refer to a previously conceived intention. As shown by Ludwig AI, its most frequent use is to provide background or justification when explaining a change in direction, strategy, or action. Its register is generally neutral, with examples found in formal news articles, academic texts, and informal conversation. When using the phrase, consider contrasting it with the new or revised plan to highlight the difference. You can also use alternative phrases such as "my initial plan" or "my initial intention" to express similar ideas. Remember to use the phrase when describing significant shifts, not minor adjustments.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

my initial plan

Replaces 'original' with 'initial', indicating the first plan.

my initial intention

Substitutes 'plan' with 'intention', focusing on the purpose.

my initial strategy

Replaces 'plan' with 'strategy', focusing on the method to achieve a goal.

my starting point

Replaces 'plan' with 'starting point', emphasizing the beginning of an action.

my original design

Replaces 'plan' with 'design', especially useful when referring to creative or structural plans.

the plan I started with

Restructures the sentence to highlight the initial nature of the plan.

what I had originally intended

Shifts focus to the intended action rather than the plan itself.

my original scheme

Uses 'scheme' as a more formal or detailed alternative to 'plan'.

the plan I had in mind initially

Rephrases to emphasize the mental conception of the plan.

my preliminary arrangement

Replaces 'plan' with 'arrangement', highlighting a preliminary preparation.

FAQs

How can I use "my original plan" in a sentence?

You can use "my original plan" to contrast a past intention with a current action, for example: "My original plan was to travel to Europe, but I decided to stay home instead".

What phrases are similar to "my original plan"?

Similar phrases include "my initial plan", "my initial intention", and "my starting point".

When is it appropriate to use "my original plan"?

It's appropriate to use "my original plan" when you need to highlight a contrast between a previous strategy or goal and the current situation. It's particularly useful in explaining why a change was necessary.

Is "my original plan" formal or informal?

"My original plan" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its acceptability depends more on the surrounding language and the overall tone of the communication.