my thought was

USAGE SUMMARY

"my thought was" is a perfectly acceptable and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to indicate a past idea or opinion you had. For example, "My thought was that it would be easier to finish the project quickly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

My thought was, 'Yes.

The New Yorker

My thought was, "Three girls?! Yes please!

The New York Times

"My thought was I had to get out of there.

The New York Times

My thought was, You didn't need to go that far.

The New Yorker

"My thought was, You are out of your fucking mind.

The Guardian - Film

"With everything else my thought was, 'What's the rush?

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

"'My thought was: 'This is my Twitter.

The New York Times

My thought was that they might have a shot at THE shot.

Huffington Post

"My thought was just to get an idea of the style and then to go home," he said.

The New York Times - Arts

Certainly, watching 'The Book of Mormon,' my thought was that you can go further than I had thought".

The New York Times

"I was shaking my head like, 'I can't believe this.' My thought was that I was angry.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "my thought was", ensure it clearly reflects a past idea or intention. Provide context so readers understand the significance of that thought.

Common error

Avoid shifting tenses unexpectedly after "my thought was". If you're describing a past thought, maintain consistency with past tense verbs throughout the sentence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "my thought was" serves as a declarative statement introducing a past idea, belief, or consideration. It prefaces an explanation or account of what someone was thinking at a particular time, as seen in the examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Science

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "my thought was" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to introduce a past idea, belief, or intention. As shown by Ludwig, it is prevalent in news and media, with neutral formality, serving to convey a prior perspective or rationale. When using this phrase, ensure tense consistency and provide sufficient context for clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

i was thinking

This alternative uses a continuous tense to describe the thinking process.

i believed

This alternative emphasizes the speaker's past conviction or faith.

i considered

This alternative highlights the process of deliberation or evaluation.

i had in mind

This alternative focuses on a plan or intention the speaker held.

my initial idea was

This alternative specifies that the thought was the first one.

it occurred to me

This alternative emphasizes the sudden or unexpected nature of the thought.

i assumed

This alternative suggests a presumption made without concrete evidence.

my understanding was

This alternative frames the thought as a comprehension of a situation.

i figured

This alternative indicates a conclusion reached through reasoning or calculation.

i surmised

This alternative suggests an inference based on limited information.

FAQs

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

Use "my thought was" to introduce a past idea, intention, or belief. For example, "My thought was to finish the project by Friday, but unforeseen issues arose".

What are some alternatives to "my thought was"?

You can use alternatives like "I was thinking", "I believed", or "it occurred to me" depending on the context.

Is "my thought was" formal or informal?

"My thought was" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal alternatives might be preferred in academic or professional writing.

What's the difference between "my thought was" and "my intention was"?

"My thought was" refers to a general idea or belief, while "my intention was" specifically indicates a planned course of action or goal.