Believe It

The phrase “I believe” gets thrown around on a regular basis. It seems to have two purposes in the English language. One is to avoid contradiction and the other is to state a firm belief in something.

In current times, “I believe” is used a lot, usually in casual conversation. It seems to be a way to avoid confrontation as putting the phrase in front of an idea gives it the sense of being more of a possibility rather than a stated fact. Rather than stating an opinion and possibly being called out and pulled into an argument about something that one is completely apathetic about, he/she could say “I believe” and it gives a more ambivalent tinge to his/her statement. This form of “I believe” shows that the speaker is yielding to the fact that the subject is open to alternate opinions, differing from his/her own. It could also be used to signify uncertainty of a claim; this is also a way of avoiding the possibility of seeming ignorant when one says something about a subject he/she doesn’t know much about. This sort of belief is used more loosely and generally rather than as firm and concrete as an honest belief. This kind of “I believe” can actually be a negative addition to an argument as it doesn’t support a statement, rather negates the credibility of the statement made.

The other form of “I believe” is for solid, firm opinions. These sorts of beliefs are the ones that people have no doubts about. This is an idea that one is completely sure about and has complete faith in. For example, I believe that everyone has the right to be himself/herself and have his/her own opinions without the fear of being oppressed. People can use “I believe” before a phrase to show the confirmation of how adamant they are in their opinions about certain subjects. This “I believe” is usually used in more serious conversations. This shows that the speaker has no ambivalence about the matter at hand. One with firm beliefs often backs up the statements with solid facts and support. When using this kind of “I believe,” it almost seems to be a challenge for anyone to contradict the speaker, after which the speaker would negate any argument with strong evidence and facts supporting his/her opinion. This form of “I believe” is a positive reinforcement in an argument.