thought it to be

USAGE SUMMARY

'thought it to be' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express an opinion or belief about something. For example, "I thought it to be the most beautiful sight I had ever seen."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

Though the choledochus was dilated but not tortuosed in appearance, we thought it to be shorter than its normal size.

BMC Gastroenterology

We thought it to be bad luck.

The Guardian - Books

Once I thought it to be very important music.

The Guardian - Music

Some thought it to be the end of the reform period.

The Economist

However, it proved to predate the era he thought it to be.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Same goes here: the school showed itself to be something other than the upstanding institution you thought it to be.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

I thought it was going to be pretty good.

The New York Times - Sports

I thought it was going to be a boring picture.

The New York Times

I've always thought it was going to be Romney.

The New York Times

I thought it was nice to be appreciated.

The New York Times

I thought it was going to be easy.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "thought it to be" to convey a reasoned opinion or a belief based on some level of consideration. It's more formal than "thought it was".

Common error

Avoid using "thought it to be" in overly casual or informal contexts; it might sound stilted. Opt for "thought it was" in everyday conversation or informal writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "thought it to be" functions as a verb phrase indicating a past belief or opinion about something. It showcases a more formal way of expressing what someone believed or considered something to be at a particular time, as seen in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

31%

Encyclopedias

12%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Academia

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "thought it to be" serves as a formal way to express a past belief, opinion, or judgment. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and usable in written English, though more suited to formal contexts like academic papers, encyclopedias, and news articles rather than casual conversations. The phrase conveys a reasoned opinion, distinguishing itself from the more informal "thought it was". Remember to consider the formality of your writing and choose the phrase that best fits the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

considered it to be

Emphasizes a more formal or deliberate evaluation process.

believed it was

Focuses on a conviction or acceptance of something as true.

assumed it to be

Suggests a supposition made without concrete evidence.

deemed it to be

Implies a formal judgment or official assessment.

regarded it as

Highlights a particular viewpoint or manner of thinking about something.

judged it to be

Indicates an evaluation based on specific criteria or standards.

imagined it to be

Suggests a mental conception, possibly without basis in reality.

presumed it to be

Implies taking something for granted or accepting it as likely.

concluded it was

Highlights reaching a decision or forming an opinion after consideration.

suspected it was

Suggests a tentative belief based on limited evidence or intuition.

FAQs

How can I use "thought it to be" in a sentence?

Use "thought it to be" when expressing a belief or opinion, especially in a formal context. For example, "The experts "deemed it to be" a valuable contribution to the field".

Is "thought it to be" more formal than "thought it was"?

Yes, "thought it to be" is generally considered more formal and suitable for academic, professional, or literary writing. "Thought it was" is more common in everyday speech and informal writing.

What's the difference between "thought it to be" and "considered it to be"?

"Considered it to be" implies a more deliberate and thoughtful evaluation, whereas "thought it to be" can simply indicate a belief or opinion. You "regarded it as" a matter of course.

What are some alternatives to "thought it to be" in formal writing?

In formal writing, you can use alternatives like "deemed it to be", "regarded it as", or "judged it to be" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.