we foresaw that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we foresaw that" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing predictions or expectations about future events based on prior knowledge or insight. Example: "In our analysis, we foresaw that the market would experience significant changes in the coming year."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

"We foresaw that the old model was too simple to last".

Forbes

On the basis of the stationary NanoVelcro cell-affinity substrates, we foresaw that further improvement on capture performance could be achieved by increasing the contact frequency between CTCs and nanosubstrates.

Accounts of Chemical Research

On the basis of the stationary Thermoresponsive NanoVelcro substrates, we foresaw that further improvement of cell purification performance could be achieved by increasing the contact frequency between CTCs and NanoVelcro substrates, as well as fast temperature responsiveness.

ACS Nano

We foresaw that if we could link the census records of individuals to the routinely collected health data on the same individuals, we could examine the relationship between ethnicity and disease for the population of Scotland.

BMC Public Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Hence, we foresee that multiple splits will coexist within the same 5G network.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

We foresee that system is able to support unknown video categories or mixed contents in one video clip.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

We foresee that carefully curated search motifs supported by structural and bioinformatic assessments will uncover many more structural and functional aspects, particularly of signalling molecules.

Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal

Fallows argues: "After each crash, disaster or terrorist episode, it is natural to point fingers and say, Why didn't we foresee that specific threat?

Los Angeles Times

We foresee that decorin will attract more interest in the future as a promising prognostic marker for cancer patients.

Chinese Journal of Cancer

Had we foreseen that the country would collapse into such bloody mayhem after the invasion we would not have supported it.All that said, where does Iraq stand now?

The Economist

In our reverie we foresee that a demonstration of this "train" at the World's Fair of 2014 will so impress the public that efforts will be made to link our larger cities by means of tracks.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we foresaw that" when you want to emphasize that your prediction was based on a clear understanding of trends or patterns at the time.

Common error

Be careful not to use "we foresaw that" if your prediction was merely a guess or lacked a solid foundation. Ensure there was a logical basis for your foresight.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we foresaw that" functions as a reporting clause introducing a statement of prediction or anticipation. Ludwig's examples show it typically precedes a clause detailing the event or outcome that was foreseen.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

75%

News & Media

25%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "we foresaw that" is a grammatically correct construction used to introduce a statement about a prediction that turned out to be accurate. Ludwig indicates that it's most commonly found in scientific and news contexts and is generally perceived as formal. Alternatives like "we anticipated that" or "we predicted that" can be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. When using this phrase, ensure your prediction was based on sound reasoning, not mere guesswork.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we anticipated that

Replaces "foresaw" with "anticipated", indicating a slightly less strong degree of certainty.

we predicted that

Substitutes "foresaw" with "predicted", suggesting a more formal or calculated expectation.

we expected that

Uses "expected" instead of "foresaw", conveying a general anticipation based on prior experience or knowledge.

we envisioned that

Employs "envisioned" in place of "foresaw", implying a mental image or detailed expectation of the future.

we anticipated the likelihood that

Adds "the likelihood" to emphasize the probability aspect of the anticipation.

we saw in advance that

Replaces "foresaw" with "saw in advance", offering a more literal and less formal expression.

it was our expectation that

Changes the structure to emphasize the expectation itself rather than the act of foreseeing.

we had a premonition that

Uses "premonition" to suggest an intuitive or instinctual feeling about a future event.

our projections indicated that

Substitutes "foresaw" with "projections indicated", framing the anticipation as based on data or analysis.

we had a hunch that

Employs "hunch" to convey a feeling or guess about the future, often without concrete evidence.

FAQs

How can I use "we foresaw that" in a sentence?

Use "we foresaw that" to introduce a statement about something you predicted correctly based on available information. For example, "We foresaw that the demand for electric vehicles would increase significantly."

What are some alternatives to "we foresaw that"?

You can use alternatives like "we anticipated that", "we predicted that", or "we expected that" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "we foresaw that" and "we guessed that"?

"We foresaw that" implies a level of insight or understanding that allowed you to predict something, while "we guessed that" suggests a less informed estimate. Foresight is based on knowledge; guessing is based on chance.

Is "we foresaw that" formal or informal?

"We foresaw that" is generally considered neutral to formal and appropriate for use in academic, professional, and journalistic contexts. There are other ways to rephrase that are more informal.