they anticipated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they anticipated" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing expectations or predictions about future events or outcomes. Example: "They anticipated a significant increase in sales during the holiday season."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In 2008, they anticipated a small drop.

The New York Times

"But it's lost revenue they anticipated getting.

The New York Times - Sports

It has been tougher than they anticipated.

The New York Times

They anticipated some ugly attacks, and were not disappointed.

The New Yorker

They anticipated that numbers would rise again in 2012/2013.

The Guardian

"The future hasn't come quite as quickly as they anticipated.

The New York Times

Why has the big shift they anticipated not come about?

The Guardian - Opinion

In January 2012, they anticipated growth of about 2.5percentt.

The Guardian - Business

Neither Fuck Button say they anticipated a career in music.

The Guardian - Music

Many have found the process more arduous than they anticipated.

The Guardian

Canadian officials said they anticipated Alaradi would soon be released.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they anticipated" when you want to convey that a group or entity expected something to happen based on prior knowledge or reasoning. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

While "anticipate" and "expect" are similar, "anticipate" often implies preparing for something that is likely to happen. Avoid using "they anticipated" when simply stating a general expectation without any preparation or preemptive action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they anticipated" functions as a verb phrase, where "they" is the subject pronoun and "anticipated" is the past tense form of the verb "anticipate". It expresses an expectation or prediction about a future event or outcome. According to Ludwig, this phrase is often used in various contexts to indicate what a group or individuals foresaw.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Formal & Business

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Less common in

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "they anticipated" is a grammatically correct and frequently used verb phrase that expresses expectation or foresight. According to Ludwig, the phrase is most commonly found in the news and media context and has a neutral tone, making it suitable for both formal and informal communication. While "they anticipated" is an appropriate phrase, alternatives such as "they expected" or "they foresaw" may be used to convey slightly different nuances. When employing this phrase, ensure that it reflects a reasoned expectation rather than a mere wish or hope. Ultimately, it's important to bear in mind that the phrase is employed to effectively relay foresight or expectation, according to Ludwig.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they expected

Replaces "anticipated" with a more common and straightforward synonym.

they had expected

Adds emphasis to the expectation, often implying surprise if it didn't happen.

they foresaw

Implies a greater degree of foresight or insight than "anticipated".

they predicted

Suggests a more formal or calculated forecast.

they envisioned

Emphasizes a mental image or future scenario they imagined.

they projected

Indicates a formal estimate or extrapolation based on data.

they assumed

Implies a belief taken for granted without proof.

they looked forward to

Suggests a positive expectation or eagerness.

they reckoned

Offers a more informal or colloquial alternative to "anticipated".

they were counting on

Implies reliance on a particular outcome or event.

FAQs

How can I use "they anticipated" in a sentence?

You can use "they anticipated" to express that a group expected something to happen. For example, "They anticipated a rise in sales during the holiday season."

What is a more formal alternative to "they anticipated"?

A more formal alternative could be "they projected" or "they foresaw", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

What's the difference between "they anticipated" and "they expected"?

While similar, "they anticipated" often suggests preparing for a likely event, whereas "they expected" is a more general expression of expectation.

When should I use "they anticipated" versus "they hoped"?

"They anticipated" implies a reasoned expectation, while "they hoped" expresses a desire for something to occur, even if the likelihood is uncertain.