What phrases do you use when expressing your opinion? Chances are, ‘I think’ is one that often comes to mind. While perfectly acceptable, there are numerous other effective options! Keep in mind that the choice of words or phrases depends on the level of formality. For example, in academic essays, avoiding the use of ‘I’ is often preferred to maintain a formal tone. Instead, consider using ‘we think/suppose/believe,’ etc. Continue reading for expressions that are useful in daily conversations, along with more formal alternatives.

To make this post handy for your future use, we’ve put together a concise list of phrases sorted by how formal they are. Check out the expressions and their example sentences below. Don’t forget to try out the exercise at the end to help remember these new expressions. We’d love to hear your thoughts on the post and how helpful you find these phrases, so be sure to voice your opinion in the comment below!

Neutral & Informal Phrases

Phrase	Example sentence
I feel that	I feel that studying abroad can broaden your horizons.
It seems to me	It seems to me that he didn’t understand the instructions.
To me	To me, the most important thing is spending time with family.
To my mind	To my mind, exercise is essential for a healthy lifestyle.
From where I stand	From where I stand, the company needs to invest more in research.
From my standpoint	From my standpoint, the new policy will benefit everyone.
From my perspective/point of view	From my perspective, the project timeline is too ambitious.
As I see it	As I see it, we should prioritize environmental sustainability.
As far as I can tell	As far as I can tell, she hasn’t made up her mind yet.
As I see/understand it	As I understand it, the meeting has been rescheduled to next week.
Based on what I know	Based on what I know, the event starts at 7 PM.
Personally (informal)	Personally, I prefer action movies over romantic comedies.
Speaking for myself	Speaking for myself, I prefer summer vacations over winter.
My take on it is (informal)	My take on it is that we should focus on long-term goals.
By my reckoning	By my reckoning, we’ve covered all the necessary topics.
I reckon (informal)	I reckon he’ll arrive late, as usual.
I figure (informal)	I figure we should leave early to avoid rush hour traffic.
I guess (informal)	I guess she won’t be able to attend the meeting.
I have no doubt that	I have no doubt that she will succeed in her new role.
No doubt	No doubt, the team worked hard to achieve this result.
Frankly speaking	Frankly speaking, I don’t agree with your decision.
To be honest/frank	To be honest, I think the presentation could have been better.
In my eyes	In my eyes, he’s the best candidate for the job.
In my opinion/view	In my opinion, learning a second language is beneficial.
I’m under the impression that	I’m under the impression that she’s not happy with the outcome.
It goes without saying	It goes without saying that practice makes perfect.
As for me*	As for me, I think we should start the project next week.
To tell you the truth (informal)	To tell you the truth, I haven’t finished reading the report.
If you ask me (informal)	If you ask me, the best solution is to hire more staff.

*Note that using ‘as for me‘ at the beginning of a sentence typically makes sense as a follow-up, alternative, or response to something someone else has said, often to contrast with another person’s opinion. For example:

In this dialog, ‘as for me’ is used by Joe to express her personal preference, which contrasts with James’s preference for beach vacations.

Formal Phrases

The following phrases are suitable for formal writing, academic essays, presentations, and professional discussions where a more polished and objective tone is required.

Note that, as mentioned above, if you aim to add formality to your writing or speaking, you should avoid using “I” or “my” and use “we” and “our” instead. Adjust the expressions from the table below whenever necessary.

Phrase	Example sentence
I believe	I believe the proposed policy will lead to greater efficiency.
I strongly believe	I strongly believe that investing in renewable energy is crucial for sustainable development.
My view is that	My view is that the company should prioritize customer satisfaction above all else.
It is my belief that	It is my belief that education is the key to reducing poverty globally.”
My contention is that	My contention is that stricter regulations are necessary to curb environmental pollution.
I am of the opinion that	I am of the opinion that diversity initiatives enhance organizational performance.
It appears to me that	It appears to me that the data supports the hypothesis of climate change.
It would seem that	It would seem that implementing these changes could improve overall productivity.
It could be argued that	It could be argued that technological advancements have revolutionized modern communication.
In my estimation	In my estimation, the project will require additional funding to meet its objectives.

Practice

To practice these phrases, let’s fill in the blanks with the appropriate words. You need just one word to complete each gap. Click the link here to do the activity.