wrongly thought that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'wrongly thought that' is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used to express the idea that someone mistakenly believed something. For example, "He wrongly thought that the bus had already left, so he missed it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

I had thought about myself and what motivates me, and I wrongly thought that applied to everyone.

Stanford University

However, nearly two thirds wrongly thought that putting objects in the wrong place – e.g. a mug of tea in the cupboard – was an indication of dementia.

Independent

Some 400 yeshiva students were also exempted from military service because the new state's secular leaders wrongly thought that they were a vanishing historical remnant.

The New York Times

But the crucial discussion was about the concept of fate and coincidence where I wrongly thought that he believed life was governed by coincidence.

The Guardian - Film

A shift in the frequency of light received from a moving source had been proposed in 1842 by the Austrian physicist Christian Doppler, who (wrongly) thought that in this way he could explain the colours of binary stars.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Len Seymour, a researcher at Oxford University, likens this approach to using DNA as a drug.In the early days, says Dr Seymour, people wrongly thought that it would be easy to introduce genetic material into diseased cells.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Did he, wrongly, think that he had put antifreeze in the car?

Encyclopedia Britannica

Imagine that a company receives a warrant and wrongly thinks that the warrant is defective.

The Washington Post

On the flipside, people often wrongly think that empty deodorant aerosols cannot be recycled.

The Guardian

First, because its advisers wrongly think that nuclear weapons are legal in certain circumstances.

The Guardian - Opinion

Voters wrongly think that as many as one in four of recipients is making bogus claims.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "wrongly thought that", ensure the context clearly indicates why the thought was incorrect. Providing evidence or explanation strengthens the statement.

Common error

Avoid using "wrongly thought that" when the error is already apparent from the context. A more concise expression might be more effective.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "wrongly thought that" functions as a connector introducing a subordinate clause that expresses a mistaken belief or assumption. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

20%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "wrongly thought that" is a grammatically correct and useful expression for indicating a mistaken belief. Ludwig AI confirms this. It appears most frequently in news and media contexts, and is also found in academic and encyclopedia sources. While not extremely common, it provides a clear way to highlight a discrepancy between a belief and reality. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly explains why the thought was incorrect to enhance clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

incorrectly assumed that

Emphasizes the incorrectness of the assumption.

mistakenly believed that

Highlights the error in belief.

falsely presumed that

Suggests a presumption based on inaccurate information.

erroneously concluded that

Focuses on the incorrect conclusion drawn.

was under the false impression that

Similar to "had the wrong impression", but more emphatic.

naively imagined that

Implies a lack of experience or knowledge led to the incorrect thought.

had the wrong impression that

Suggests a mistaken understanding from the start.

misinterpreted that

Highlights the faulty interpretation of information.

misjudged that

Emphasizes the poor judgment in forming the thought.

labored under the illusion that

Implies a persistent, but incorrect, belief.

FAQs

How can I use "wrongly thought that" in a sentence?

You can use "wrongly thought that" to indicate a mistaken belief. For example, "He "wrongly thought that" the meeting was canceled, so he didn't attend."

What are some alternatives to "wrongly thought that"?

Alternatives include "incorrectly assumed that", "mistakenly believed that", or "falsely presumed that", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it always necessary to explicitly state that someone "wrongly thought that" something?

No, sometimes the context makes it clear that a belief was incorrect, and you can simply state the correct information. However, using "wrongly thought that" can add emphasis or clarity.

What's the difference between "wrongly thought that" and "naively believed that"?

"Wrongly thought that" generally indicates a factual error, while "naively believed that" suggests a lack of experience or sophistication led to the incorrect belief. The latter carries a connotation of innocence or simplicity.