we suspected that

USAGE SUMMARY

"we suspected that" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to express that you think something might be true. For example, "We suspected that the car had been abandoned by its owner."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Somehow, we suspected that would be the answer.

The New York Times

However, we suspected that gene loss was not random and resulted from a converging evolutionary process.

Biology Direct

"We suspected that Pino had gone through that.

The New Yorker

For many years we suspected that Mr. Goodman was not a real person.

The New York Times

We suspected that Penelope's Pavoncino had several times suffered some form of attempted poisoning.

The Guardian

We were told there was not enough work but we suspected that there was a blacklist".

The Guardian - Money

"We suspected that there was more going on in his life, deeper issues".

The New York Times

"Then we suspected that somebody else was sick," the headman said.

The New Yorker

"We suspected that money was to be distributed among voters and supporters to buy their favor," he said.

The New York Times

We suspected that clinicians were ordering more cranial imaging in syncope patients than necessary.

International Journal of Emergency Medicine

Based on these results, we suspected that the valve lesions were NBTE associated with occult malignancy.

Surgical Case Reports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we suspected that" to clearly convey a belief or educated guess based on available information, particularly when presenting findings or analyses.

Common error

Avoid using "we suspected that" when you have definitive proof or strong evidence. In such cases, phrases like "we confirmed that" or "we determined that" are more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we suspected that" functions as a clause introducer, specifically indicating a subjective assessment or hypothesis. According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for use in written English. It conveys a degree of uncertainty or a belief based on available information.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

56%

News & Media

37%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "we suspected that" is a versatile phrase used to introduce a belief or hypothesis based on available information. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use. Its occurrence is most frequent in scientific and news contexts, suggesting a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal communication. It is important to differentiate this phrase from stronger assertions, using it appropriately when certainty is lacking. By considering these nuances, writers can effectively and accurately convey their intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we believed that

Replaces "suspected" with "believed", suggesting a stronger degree of conviction.

we thought that

Uses "thought" instead of "suspected", implying a more general or casual consideration.

we had a hunch that

Replaces "suspected" with "had a hunch", conveying a more intuitive feeling.

we had a feeling that

Similar to "had a hunch", but emphasizes an emotional or instinctive sense.

we surmised that

Employs "surmised", indicating a conclusion based on limited evidence.

we gathered that

Uses "gathered", suggesting an inference drawn from available information.

we inferred that

Replaces "suspected" with "inferred", emphasizing a logical deduction.

we anticipated that

Uses "anticipated", focusing on expecting something to happen.

our suspicion was that

Rephrases the sentence to emphasize the suspicion itself.

it was our suspicion that

Shifts the focus to "it", making the suspicion the subject of the sentence.

FAQs

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

Use "we suspected that" to introduce a hypothesis or belief that is based on some evidence but not fully proven. For example, "We observed the data and "we suspected that" the results were skewed."

What can I say instead of "we suspected that"?

You can use alternatives like "we believed that", "we thought that", or "we had a hunch that" depending on the context and the level of certainty you want to express.

Is "we suspected that" formal or informal?

"We suspected that" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal writing. However, in highly formal or scientific contexts, you might prefer more precise language, such as "we hypothesized that".

What's the difference between "we suspected that" and "we knew that"?

"We suspected that" implies a degree of uncertainty or conjecture, while "we knew that" indicates certainty and established knowledge. Use "we knew that" only when you have concrete evidence or proof.