what we initially believed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "what we initially believed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a change in understanding or perspective from an earlier assumption or belief. Example: "After reviewing the evidence, it became clear that what we initially believed was not accurate."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

We initially believed that the clinical picture was complete, until we reviewed the contents of StructoKabiven®.

CKJ: Clinical Kidney Journal

We initially believed that these samples had LFA false-positive results (Table 4).

Emerging Infectious Diseases

In fact such a relationship is what we initially expected.

Health Economics Review

The Thai Airways International plane exploded at an airport in Bangkok, in what was initially believed to be sabotage.

The New York Times

Her mother Cindy Wells described hearing what she initially believed to be foxes outside of their family home shortly after she went to bed.

Independent

The second instance, Mr. Vick said, involved the firing Wednesday of the Shahab-3a and, a few seconds later, what analysts initially believed was a second Shahab.

The New York Times

But it is clear that over the last several months, these advisers have become at least somewhat calloused to what they initially believed to be a catastrophe.

The New York Times

Mr. Salomon first raised concerns with his supervisors about what he initially believed were mistakes in the company's billing process, but was "shut down" by management, Mr. McCormack said.

The New York Times

Each poster should make clear what people initially believed about an aspect of the crisis; how research or subsequent revelations changed that understanding; and a lesson or moral of the story for future leaders.

The New York Times

On Thursday, after firefighters had picked through the ruins of what they initially believed had been an early-morning fire that killed Ms. Jones and all four children, they uncovered evidence that was even more troubling: Ms. Jones's oldest child, C. J.

The New York Times

What was initially believed to be a bony sternum turned out to be part of the coracoid, but a cartilaginous sternum may have been present.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "what we initially believed" to clearly indicate a shift in understanding, particularly when presenting new evidence or insights that contradict a previous assumption.

Common error

Avoid using "what we initially believed" in contexts where a simpler phrase like "we thought" would suffice. This phrase is most effective when emphasizing a significant change in perspective.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what we initially believed" functions as a noun clause, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It refers to a specific belief held at a previous point in time. Ludwig AI examples showcase how this phrase introduces a contrast or a change in understanding.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

35%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "what we initially believed" serves as a noun clause to express a prior understanding or belief. As indicated by Ludwig AI, the expression is grammatically correct and effective for highlighting a shift in perspective. While primarily found in News & Media and Scientific contexts, it maintains a generally neutral and leans toward professional tone. When employing this phrase, ensure it introduces a genuine contrast with a current understanding, and consider simpler alternatives for informal settings. Be mindful not to overuse it where a more concise expression suffices.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

our initial understanding

Focuses on the understanding aspect rather than the belief, keeping the temporal reference.

our original assumption

Replaces belief with the term assumption.

what we previously thought

Replaces 'initially believed' with 'previously thought'.

our earlier conviction

Substitutes belief with 'conviction', suggesting a stronger prior belief.

the original premise

Focuses on the foundational statement or idea that was initially accepted.

the preliminary conclusion

Highlights that the belief was an early conclusion drawn from initial evidence.

how we initially saw it

Replaces the belief with how something was initially perceived.

the first impression we had

Focuses on the impression someone had at the beginning.

our starting point

Replaces the entire phrase with a more concise expression indicating the initial position.

the initial hypothesis

Implies the initial belief was a hypothesis requiring further investigation.

FAQs

How can I use "what we initially believed" in a sentence?

You can use "what we initially believed" to introduce a contrast with a current understanding, as in "What we initially believed about the project's timeline turned out to be overly optimistic."

What's a more straightforward alternative to "what we initially believed"?

Consider using simpler phrases like "we first thought" or "our original belief", especially in informal contexts.

Is it always necessary to specify "initially" when discussing a previous belief?

No, specifying "initially" is most useful when you want to emphasize the contrast between a past and present understanding. Otherwise, "what we believed" may be sufficient.

What's the difference between "what we initially believed" and "what we now know"?

"What we initially believed" refers to a past understanding that may have been incorrect or incomplete. "What we now know" refers to the current, presumably more accurate, understanding based on new information or insights.