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