we thought wrong

USAGE SUMMARY

"we thought wrong" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when expressing that a previous belief or assumption was incorrect. Example: "We thought wrong about the outcome of the project." Alternative expressions include "we were mistaken" and "we misjudged."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

We thought wrong.

The New York Times

We thought the time of electronic book readers had come and gone, but we thought wrong.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

You need to understand that we watch Jenna Marbles, we swear, we think wrong, we act insane, we have Facebooks, we can't live without Internet, we can't live without our phones.

The New York Times

"With very few exceptions, everything we thought was wrong," he said.

The New York Times - Science

"We prevented him from doing something," the mayor said, "that we thought was wrong".

The New York Times

Mom and I talked about what we thought was wrong with the picture before us.

Huffington Post

A Treasury spokesman said: "We thought they were wrong then, we still think they're wrong, and now it turns out most of the board agree with us".

The Guardian - Business

"We thought it was wrong and nowadays it would be thought of as wrong.

The Guardian

We thought they were wrong to oppose the economic stimulus after the banking crash.

The Economist

The first time he told us his Social Security, we thought he was wrong.

The New Yorker

"We thought something was wrong with the instrument," she says.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we thought wrong" when you want to directly acknowledge a previous error in judgment, especially when emphasizing a collective realization of being mistaken. Consider context and audience to determine if a more formal or direct phrasing is more appropriate.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "we thought wrong" can sound informal or simplistic in professional or academic writing. Opt for stronger, more precise language like "we were mistaken" or "our hypothesis was disproven" to maintain a more authoritative tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we thought wrong" functions as a concise statement of a past misjudgment. It typically appears within a larger sentence, acknowledging that a previous belief or expectation was incorrect. Ludwig AI indicates that the expression is grammatically acceptable, although not extremely frequent.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "we thought wrong" is a grammatically correct, albeit somewhat informal, way to admit a past error in judgment. Ludwig AI identifies the phrase as acceptable for use, with a slight tendency toward informality. It appears most commonly in news and media contexts. When writing, it's advisable to consider the audience and the level of formality required; more formal alternatives like "we were mistaken" may be more suitable for professional or academic settings. While understandable, overusing "we thought wrong" in formal contexts may weaken your tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we were mistaken

This alternative is more direct and simply states the error in judgement.

we misjudged

This alternative focuses on the act of judging incorrectly, rather than just the thought.

we were incorrect

Similar to "we were mistaken", but emphasizes the factual inaccuracy.

we had the wrong idea

This alternative emphasizes that the initial concept was flawed.

our assumption was wrong

Focuses on the assumption itself being incorrect.

we were under the wrong impression

Highlights the misleading nature of the initial understanding.

we drew the wrong conclusion

Emphasizes that the error lies in the inference made.

we failed to anticipate

Focuses on a lack of foresight.

we didn't foresee

Highlights the lack of prediction about something.

we were off base

An informal alternative suggesting the initial assessment was inaccurate.

FAQs

What does "we thought wrong" mean?

The phrase "we thought wrong" means that a belief or assumption held previously by a group of people turned out to be incorrect.

Is "we thought wrong" grammatically correct?

Yes, "we thought wrong" is grammatically correct, although it might sound slightly informal. It's a concise way to admit a past misjudgment.

What can I say instead of "we thought wrong"?

You can use alternatives like "we were mistaken", "we misjudged", or "we were incorrect" depending on the context. These options may sound more formal.

When is it appropriate to use "we thought wrong"?

It's appropriate in informal settings or when aiming for a direct, concise statement. In formal writing, consider using alternatives like "we were mistaken" or "our initial assumption was flawed".