Common Mistakes : Believe
verb
:N1
.BAD: You should not believe in everything you hear
.GOOD: You should not believe everything you hear
.BAD: She couldn’t believe in what was happening to her
.GOOD: She couldn’t believe what was happening to her
believe in sth =(1) accept that something exists
?Do you believe in ghosts
.James still believes in Father Christmas
believe in sth =(2) think that something is good
.I don’t believe in capital punishment
.I believe in getting a good night’s sleep before an examination
believe sth = accept that something is true or real
.I believe every word she said
.I couldn’t believe what I was seeing
:N2
.BAD: I could hardly believe in my eyes
.GOOD: I could hardly believe my eyes
(could not/hardly believe your ears/eyes (WITHOUT in
:N3
.BAD: I deeply believe that tourists will stop coming here
.GOOD: I firmly believe that tourists will stop coming here
.BAD: My brother deeply believes in freedom of speech
.GOOD: My brother strongly believes in freedom of speech
(Firmly/strongly/fervently/sincerely/truly believe (NOT deeply
.I sincerely believe that he had no connection with the crime