than we thought

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "than we thought" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when comparing a current realization or outcome to a previous assumption or expectation. Example: "The project took longer to complete than we thought, but the results were worth the wait."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Fewer systems than we thought?

The New York Times

It's worse than we thought.

The New York Times

It's harder than we thought.

The New Yorker

"Harder than we thought.

The New York Times

Drew, it's worse than we thought.

The New Yorker

Yep, that's worse than we thought.

Independent

(Maybe more than we thought).

The New Yorker

More so than we thought.

The New York Times

They gained power quicker than we thought".

The Guardian

This is worse than we thought.

The Guardian

Rockocracy might be closer than we thought.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "than we thought" to effectively express a change in understanding or expectation based on new information or experiences. For instance, "The project was more challenging than we thought, but ultimately rewarding."

Common error

Avoid using incorrect verb tenses when constructing sentences with "than we thought". For example, instead of saying "It will be harder than we think", use "It is harder than we thought" when referring to a past or present realization.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "than we thought" functions as a comparative conjunction phrase. It connects a statement about a current state or realization to a prior expectation or belief. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Science

13%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "than we thought" is a common and grammatically sound way to express a difference between an initial expectation and a later realization. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread usage across various contexts, especially in News & Media. When using this phrase, ensure correct tense usage and consider alternatives like "than we expected" to add nuance. "Than we thought" is a versatile phrase suitable for both formal and informal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

more than we anticipated

Emphasizes a discrepancy between what was expected and what actually occurred.

beyond our initial expectations

Highlights that the outcome surpassed the original level of expectation.

contrary to our initial belief

Focuses on the contrast between the initial belief and the actual situation.

different from what we envisioned

Indicates a divergence from the original mental picture or plan.

exceeded our projections

Implies that the results were better or greater than the forecasted estimates.

turned out differently than we imagined

Highlights that the actual outcome was unlike what was initially conceived.

varied from our original assessment

Indicates a deviation from the first evaluation or judgment.

unlike what we had foreseen

Shows a contrast between what was predicted and what happened.

surpassed our understanding

Suggests the situation is now more complex than previously conceived.

proved to be more complex than we realized

Highlights an underestimated level of complication or difficulty.

FAQs

How can I use "than we thought" in a sentence?

Use "than we thought" to compare a present understanding with a previous expectation. For example, "The task was more complicated "than we thought" it would be."

What are some alternatives to "than we thought"?

Alternatives include "than we expected", "more than we anticipated", or "contrary to our initial belief", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "then we thought" instead of "than we thought"?

No, "then we thought" is incorrect in this context. "Than" is used for comparisons, while "then" refers to time. Use ""than we thought"" to express a comparison between an expectation and a realization.

What's the difference between "than we thought" and "than we expected"?

While similar, ""than we thought"" implies a reflection or reassessment, while "than we expected" simply indicates that the outcome differed from what was anticipated.