originally I thought

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "originally I thought" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing a change in perspective or realization about a previous belief or assumption. Example: "Originally I thought that the project would take a month to complete, but now I see it will require more time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

They had no sense when they sent it to me where this took place... Originally I thought it was supposed to take place after "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" and before the first "X-Men".

Huffington Post

Originally I thought I would be alone.

The New York Times - Travel

Originally I thought about teaching elementary education.

The New York Times

"Originally, I thought about putting the tub on the terrace.

The New York Times

Originally, I thought the release of Hatred by Destructive Creations was a joke.

Independent

Originally I thought I would write something about my speciality, the financial industry.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

20 human-written examples

A late '80s synth originally, I think.

Vice

I had the idea originally when I thought boats were just boats.

The New Yorker

I know the guys who built [the Cooper Square Hotel] originally, and I thought they miscalculated a bunch of things.

Huffington Post

(FGD, PLHIV) Once a person has disclosed and joined a networked group, they profit from services provided by their own, or other groups in the network: [Originally] I thought I would die.

AIDS Care - Psychological and Socio-Medical Aspects of AIDS/HIV

Being originally from California, I thought to myself that that felt like an earthquake.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "originally I thought", ensure the sentence clearly explains what changed your mind or what your current understanding is.

Common error

Avoid using "originally I thought" without providing a clear contrast or explanation of your current understanding. The phrase implies a change in perspective, so the contrasting viewpoint is essential.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "originally I thought" functions as an introductory phrase to express a retrospective viewpoint, indicating a change in understanding or perspective. This phrase sets the stage for contrasting a past belief with a current one, as shown in Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Science

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "originally I thought" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to introduce a past belief that has since changed. Ludwig shows its prevalent usage in news and media, indicating a neutral to slightly informal register. When using this phrase, ensure you clearly contrast the past belief with your current understanding to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at first I believed

Replaces "originally thought" with "at first believed", focusing on the initial belief.

initially, I assumed

Uses "initially" instead of "originally" and "assumed" instead of "thought", conveying a slightly less certain initial idea.

in the beginning, I imagined

Replaces "originally" with "in the beginning" and "thought" with "imagined", suggesting a creative initial conception.

I used to think

A more concise way of expressing a past belief that has changed.

I had always believed

Emphasizes the duration of the initial belief before the change.

my initial impression was

Focuses on the first impression rather than a fully formed thought.

I once considered

Suggests a fleeting initial idea that was later discarded.

my original idea was

Highlights the initial idea or plan, implying a subsequent change in direction.

to begin with, I surmised

Replaces "originally" with "to begin with" and "thought" with "surmised", indicating a guess or inference.

earlier, I had the notion

Uses "earlier" to express time, and "notion" is less formal than "thought".

FAQs

How can I use "originally I thought" in a sentence?

Use "originally I thought" to introduce a belief or assumption you held in the past that has since changed. For example, "Originally I thought the project would be simple, but now I realize it's quite complex."

What is a more formal way to say "originally I thought"?

For a more formal tone, you could use phrases like "Initially, I assumed..." or "At first, I believed...". These alternatives convey the same meaning but are suitable for professional or academic contexts.

What can I say instead of "originally I thought"?

You can use alternatives like "at first I believed", "initially I assumed", or "I used to think" depending on the context.

Is there a subtle difference in meaning between "originally I thought" and "I initially assumed"?

"Originally I thought" suggests a more considered initial viewpoint, whereas "I initially assumed" implies a less certain, perhaps more speculative, starting point.