suspect it to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "suspect it to" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used incorrectly; the correct form would be "suspect it of" or "suspect that it is." Example: "I suspect it to be a misunderstanding" should be "I suspect it to be a misunderstanding."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

The soldiers in the helicopter suspect it to be hostile and, after getting clearance from base, fire again.

The New York Times

You might suspect it to be vegan, or at least vegetarian, but chef/owner Douglas McMaster's stint at St John means he's happy with meat, as long as the whole beast is pressed into service.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Although this is described as a measure to increase state revenues, foreign businessmen and diplomats in Congo suspect it to be a crude attempt by Mr Kabila to bring revenue under his direct control.Angola, whose troops occupy the oil towns on Congo's coast, has formed a joint oil-exploration company with the Congo government called Sonangol-Congo.

The Economist

I was tempted to replace it with "positron" — the chapter was about positrons — but reminding myself of my duty as a translator, I started to translate: Imagine a possum at point A and at time t, so that, at time t¹, we suspect it to be at point A¹.

The New Yorker

I was tempted to replace it with "positron" — the chapter was about positrons — but reminding myself of my duty as a translator, I started to translate: Imagine a possum at point A and at time t, so that, at time _t_¹, we suspect it to be at point A¹.

The New Yorker

The report's lead author, Dr Caroline Wright, told the BBC: "I think it will come fairly quickly, probably for the rare disorders to start with, particularly kids with developmental disorders, any kind of undiagnosed rare condition where you suspect it to be genetic, but you don't know where to look".

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

Whether or not they suspected it to be Mr Etete, their dealings with him were extensive.

The Economist

It has long been wondered, and many have suspected it to be true, but Claudio Ranieri confirmed it yesterday.

Independent

Perhaps for this reason, I've long suspected it to be a substitute for more demanding virtues.

The New Yorker

The current government's rhetoric about 'helping people who help themselves' has been exposed to be as hollow and disingenuous as I always suspected it to be.

Independent

After a subclavian access, we suspected it to be a left pneumothorax.

Critical Ultrasound Journal

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "suspect it to" in formal writing. Instead, use grammatically correct alternatives such as "suspect that it is" or "suspect it of being."

Common error

The common mistake is using "to" as a preposition following "suspect". Ensure "suspect" is followed by a "that" clause or by "of" + gerund to maintain grammatical correctness. The correct structure is: 'suspect that it is', or 'suspect it of being'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "suspect it to" functions as a verb phrase expressing a degree of uncertainty or belief. However, as Ludwig AI indicates, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. The correct forms are "suspect that it is" or "suspect it of being."

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

31%

Science

29%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "suspect it to" appears with some frequency in various sources, including news and media, Ludwig AI confirms that it is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The correct alternatives include using "suspect that it is" or "suspect it of being". For formal writing, it's best to opt for grammatically sound alternatives to ensure clarity and maintain credibility. The persistence of the incorrect form likely stems from colloquial usage, but adherence to proper grammar is crucial in professional and academic contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

suspect that it is

Replaces the infinitive construction with a 'that' clause for grammatical correctness.

suspect it of being

Uses the preposition 'of' followed by a gerund to indicate suspicion.

believe it to be

Substitutes "suspect" with "believe" while maintaining the infinitive structure, implying a stronger degree of certainty.

think it is likely to be

Rephrases the suspicion as a likelihood or probability.

have reason to believe it is

Indicates a basis for the suspicion, adding a layer of justification.

consider it to be

Implies a more thoughtful evaluation leading to the suspicion.

have a hunch it is

Suggests a more intuitive or instinctive feeling of suspicion.

am inclined to think it is

Expresses a tendency to believe something based on available evidence.

have a sneaking suspicion it is

Highlights the secretive or subtle nature of the suspicion.

gather it to be

Indicates that the suspicion is formed from collecting information or clues.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say "suspect it to be"?

The grammatically correct alternatives are to say "suspect that it is" or "suspect it of being".

Is "suspect it to" grammatically correct?

No, "suspect it to" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. It's better to use "suspect that it is" or "suspect it of being".

What can I say instead of "suspect it to" in formal writing?

In formal writing, use more precise and grammatically sound alternatives such as "believe it to be" or "have reason to believe it is".

Which is more accurate: "suspect it to be" or "suspect that it is"?

"Suspect that it is" is more accurate and grammatically correct compared to "suspect it to be".