supposed him to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "supposed him to" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward or unclear.
It can be used when expressing an assumption or belief about someone, but it is often better to rephrase for clarity. Example: "She supposed him to be the leader of the group, but she was mistaken."

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

He was quickly apprehended by police; a search of his lodgings uncovered his stash of Thompson's letters, which she supposed him to have destroyed.

The Guardian - Books

I supposed Him to exist only within the walls of a church — in fact, of our church — and I also supposed that God and safety were synonymous.

The New Yorker

While Rembrandt's earliest biographers had supposed him to be the illiterate friend of beggars and boors (and Saskia, the burgomaster's daughter, a simple peasant girl), the nineteenth-century writers thought him a profound thinker, Denker und Dichter.

The New Yorker

Jonathan Glazer, director of three exquisitely distinctive feature films and adman and music-video-maker extraordinaire, turns out to be far from the slick operator you may have supposed him to be.

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

What piqued Lane's interest most were the events that must have occurred to the junior Holmes to mould him into the character he is when we meet him at 26, or thereabouts, as Lane supposes him to have been.

Independent

Atheists take this conclusion to prove that there is no God; the Socinians take it to show that God is not the sort of being that the traditional theist supposes him to be.

SEP

She became devoted to her husband, but he was often on campaign, which led to Mary's family supposing him to be cold and neglectful.

Wikipedia

Any theory that supposes him not to have been the writer of the plays and poems attributed to him must suppose that Shakespeare's contemporaries were universally fooled by some kind of secret arrangement.

Encyclopedia Britannica

His belief in this larger end for poetry, many people have supposed, led him to pontifical gesturing.

The New Yorker

"This is a HUGE inconvinience [sic] to me! How am I supposed to talk to him..

Huffington Post

This was not supposed to happen to him.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "supposed him to", ensure the context clearly indicates an assumption or belief. Often, rephrasing with alternatives like "believed him to be" or "assumed him to be" can improve clarity.

Common error

Avoid overusing "supposed him to" in writing, as it can sometimes sound stilted or unnatural. Opt for more direct and common alternatives when appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "supposed him to" functions as a verb phrase expressing an assumption or belief about someone. Ludwig AI notes that it's grammatically acceptable, but less common than alternatives.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "supposed him to" is used to express an assumption or belief about someone. While grammatically acceptable, Ludwig AI indicates that it's less common and can sometimes sound awkward. Alternatives like "believed him to be" or "assumed him to be" often provide greater clarity. Its usage appears more frequently in news and media contexts but is relatively uncommon overall. Therefore, when writing, consider whether a more direct and common alternative might enhance the clarity and naturalness of your expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

believed him to be

Replaces "supposed" with "believed", emphasizing a stronger conviction.

assumed him to be

Uses "assumed" instead of "supposed", suggesting a less conscious inference.

presumed him to be

Employs "presumed", indicating an acceptance of something as true without proof.

considered him to be

Replaces "supposed" with "considered", focusing on a more thoughtful evaluation.

thought him to be

Uses "thought" instead of "supposed", indicating a simple mental process.

imagined him to be

Employs "imagined", suggesting a creation of a mental image or idea.

suspected him to be

Replaces "supposed" with "suspected", indicating a belief based on limited evidence.

deemed him to be

Uses "deemed", suggesting a formal judgment or assessment.

took him to be

Employs "took", indicating an initial impression or understanding.

fancied him to be

Replaces "supposed" with "fancied", implying a whimsical or imaginative notion.

FAQs

What does "supposed him to" mean?

The phrase "supposed him to" means believing or assuming something about someone. For example, "I supposed him to be the manager" means "I believed him to be the manager".

What are some alternatives to "supposed him to"?

You can use alternatives like "believed him to be", "assumed him to be", or "presumed him to be" depending on the context.

Is "supposed him to" grammatically correct?

Yes, "supposed him to" is grammatically acceptable, but it can sound formal or slightly awkward in modern English. Consider using alternative phrasing for better clarity.

When is it appropriate to use "supposed him to"?

Use "supposed him to" when you want to emphasize an assumption or belief about someone's identity or role. However, be mindful of the context and consider whether a more common alternative would be more effective.