was wrong to think

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was wrong to think" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing regret or acknowledging a mistake in judgment or belief. Example: "I realized I was wrong to think that the meeting would be canceled."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

Daphne Stone deceives herself in thinking that the piece still has "all the qualities she had admired" since she was wrong to think that it ever had those qualities in the first place.

The Guardian - Books

He was wrong to think that the U.S. did it intentionally, but it did it nonetheless.

The New Yorker

In particular, he was wrong to think Islam was necessarily, and therefore immutably, intolerant.

The Economist

But eventually, she said, "I was wrong to think I could sit him out".

The New Yorker

Yet Mr Barr was wrong to think he could adjudicate over the criminality of those acts.

The Guardian - Opinion

Yet I was wrong to think that voiceover signalled something mawkish and ripe for ridicule.

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

We were wrong to think.

The New Yorker

He'd be wrong to think so.

The New York Times - Magazine

It's wrong to think of it as wildness.

Independent

But they are wrong to think like that.

The Guardian

But it is wrong to think they wield disproportionate influence.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was wrong to think", follow it with a clear explanation of the correct understanding or realization. This provides context and clarifies the nature of the mistake.

Common error

Avoid using "was wrong to think" without explaining what the correct understanding is. Failing to provide context can leave the reader confused about the nature of the mistake.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was wrong to think" functions as a retrospective assessment of a prior belief or assumption. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's used to acknowledge an error in one's past reasoning. Examples show its use across various contexts to admit misjudgments.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Science

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was wrong to think" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to acknowledge a prior incorrect belief or assumption. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase sees common usage and is suitable across various contexts, particularly in news and media. When using this phrase, be sure to provide context by explaining the accurate understanding or realization to ensure clarity. Alternatives include "was mistaken in believing" or "erred in assuming", but "was wrong to think" maintains a direct and straightforward tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was mistaken in believing

Replaces "wrong" with "mistaken" and "think" with "believing", emphasizing a factual error in the belief.

erred in assuming

Uses "erred" to highlight the mistake and "assuming" to specify the nature of the incorrect thought.

incorrectly believed

Focuses on the incorrectness of the belief, using "incorrectly" to modify "believed".

misjudged the situation

Shifts the focus to misinterpreting the situation rather than a specific thought.

failed to anticipate

Highlights a failure in predicting or expecting something, implying a wrong thought process.

was off the mark in my assessment

Emphasizes that the evaluation or judgment was inaccurate.

miscalculated the outcome

Focuses on the incorrect calculation or prediction of a result.

my initial thought was flawed

Directly states that the initial idea or thought process contained errors.

had an inaccurate perception

Points to a faulty understanding or view of something.

was under the wrong impression

Indicates that the understanding or belief was based on incorrect information.

FAQs

How can I use "was wrong to think" in a sentence?

Use "was wrong to think" to express a realization that a past belief or assumption was incorrect. For example, "I "was wrong to think" the project would be completed on time."

What are some alternatives to "was wrong to think"?

You can use alternatives like "was mistaken in believing", "erred in assuming", or "incorrectly believed depending on the context.

Is it better to say "I was wrong to think" or "I thought incorrectly"?

"I "was wrong to think"" is generally more direct and common. "I thought incorrectly" is grammatically correct but less frequently used to express the same meaning.

What's the difference between "was wrong to think" and "was wrong to assume"?

While similar, ""was wrong to think"" is broader and can refer to any kind of belief. "was wrong to assume" specifically refers to an assumption that turned out to be incorrect.