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or so i thought vs or so i had thought

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'Or so I thought' is used to express a realization or conclusion made in the present. 'Or so I had thought' is used to express a realization or conclusion made in the past.
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Explained by Jennifer
Editor at TextRanch

Last updated: November 04, 2024 • 12199 views

or so i thought

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to express a realization or conclusion made in the present.

This phrase is used to indicate that the speaker had a certain belief or understanding, which has now been proven wrong or inaccurate.

Examples:

  • I thought the meeting was at 2 p.m., or so I thought.
  • The store was closed, or so I thought.
  • He was on vacation, or so I thought.
  • Her advice ruined my life, or so I thought.
  • Things seemed good between us, or so I thought.
  • But he's impervious to real pain, or so I thought.
  • We were friends at that point or so I thought.
  • Well, she was a widow, or so I thought.
  • It was just for me, or so I thought, but I looked, and the back door is open.
  • By senior year, I had it covered, or so I thought.
  • So do you, or so i thought.
  • Except for the boots, or so I thought.
  • Instinct, pure and primal... or so I thought.
  • I just had to keep up appearances, or so I thought.
  • She was the first girl who actually liked me for me... or so I thought.
  • In fact, I got a whole lot of them, years of them, As I'm now, or so I thought, in charge of this dealership.

Alternatives:

  • I thought
  • As I believed
  • As far as I knew
  • As I understood
  • As I assumed

or so i had thought

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to express a realization or conclusion made in the past.

This phrase is used to indicate that the speaker had a certain belief or understanding in the past, which has now been proven wrong or inaccurate.

Examples:

  • I had thought the meeting was at 2 p.m., or so I had thought.
  • The store was closed, or so I had thought.
  • He was on vacation, or so I had thought.

Alternatives:

  • I had believed
  • As I had understood
  • As I had assumed
  • As I had reckoned
  • As I had imagined

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