which I believed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "which I believed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a belief or assumption that the speaker held in the past, often in a context where that belief is being questioned or contrasted with a different perspective. Example: "The evidence presented was contrary to the theory which I believed to be true for many years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

He added that a demotion "was a sanction which I believed was fair".

The New York Times

At least there was some place within my soul in which I believed that to be so.

The New York Times

It was immediately obvious it would have to be cooking, at which I believed I was irredeemably awful.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"He then told me that he was an honest and church-going man and that he would not lie, which I believed to be the case".

The New York Times - Sports

At the station were odd, amputated-looking concrete barricades at track's end, which I believed kept the trains from falling into the streets below.

The New York Times

"I knew I had to stay with him, hold my serve and try to wait for my chances, which I believed would come".

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

Which I believe it was.

The New York Times - Health

Which I believe as well.

The Guardian - Film

Which, I believe, is the point.

The New York Times

From that, I've generated a list of professions at which I believe I'd excel.

The New Yorker

I prefer not to use a mechanism which I believe is dubious".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "which I believed", ensure the context clearly indicates that this belief is either no longer held or is being contrasted with current information to provide clarity and avoid confusion.

Common error

Avoid using "which I believed" to introduce essential information. "Which" clauses are nonrestrictive, meaning they add extra detail but aren't crucial to the sentence's meaning. If the belief is essential, consider using "that I believed" or restructuring the sentence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "which I believed" functions as a nonrestrictive relative clause, adding extra information about a preceding noun or clause. According to Ludwig AI, this construction is grammatically correct and commonly found in various writing contexts. Examples in Ludwig demonstrate its use to provide context about a previously held opinion or understanding.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

94%

Science

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "which I believed" is a grammatically sound and relatively common construction used to provide extra information about a past belief. As Ludwig AI confirms, it serves to add nuance and context to a statement, often implying a shift in perspective. While generally neutral in register, it's important to use "which" clauses correctly—for nonrestrictive information only—to avoid grammatical errors. Alternatives like "that I thought was true" or "that I assumed was correct" can offer subtly different shades of meaning, depending on the intended emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that I thought was true

Replaces "believed" with "thought was true", emphasizing a cognitive process rather than a conviction.

that I formerly believed

Emphasizes that the belief is no longer held.

that I assumed was correct

Substitutes "believed" with "assumed was correct", implying a lack of firm evidence.

which I once thought

Uses "once thought" instead of "believed", emphasizing a change in opinion over time.

that I had supposed to be

Uses "supposed to be" instead of "believed", suggesting a tentative or provisional belief.

what I had previously assumed

Combines "previously" and "assumed" to underscore a prior assumption.

what I understood to be

Replaces "believed" with "understood", focusing on comprehension rather than faith.

what I initially considered

Uses "initially considered" implying a reflective process and subsequent reevaluation.

that I had been led to believe

Highlights external influence on the speaker's belief.

what I had taken for granted

Replaces belief with an assumption that was never questioned.

FAQs

How can I use "which I believed" in a sentence?

Use "which I believed" to add extra, non-essential information about something you used to think was true. For instance, "The data contradicted the hypothesis, "which I believed" was unshakeable."

What's a more formal way to say "which I believed"?

In formal writing, you might replace "which I believed" with "that I formerly held to be true" or "that I previously understood to be the case". These options offer a more sophisticated tone but carry the same core meaning.

Is there a difference between "which I believed" and "that I believed"?

"Which I believed" introduces a nonrestrictive clause, adding extra information. "That I believed" introduces a restrictive clause, essential to the sentence's meaning. So, prefer "that" to introduce essential information.

What can I say instead of "which I believed" to sound less assertive?

Alternatives like "which I assumed", "which I presumed", or "which I thought" can be used to convey a less definitive or assertive tone, implying less conviction in the initial belief.