a little think

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a little think" is not correct in standard written English.
It seems to be an incorrect combination of words, possibly intended to mean "a little thought" or "a little thinking." Example: "I need a little think about this problem before I can provide a solution."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

"Everything we produce, we have a little think about what we can give away for nothing," Davison said.

The New Yorker

You do have a little think about all your family watching but then you concentrate on your game".

The Guardian - Sport

"Perhaps if he'd had a little think about what he was doing he would have done something different".

The Guardian - Sport

Did he and all those sunny-day walkers have a little think before they got a dog?

The Guardian - Opinion

"It's now time for Dylan to go away and have a little think about what's important for him.

The Guardian - Sport

"And I think he needs to have a little think about things… He's a BBC employee as well, so I'm a bit hamstrung on anything I can say.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

Since MACCNO's formation, the city has chilled out a little, thought it hasn't stopped busting nightclubs.

Vice

Think a little different, think a lot different, think different.

The New Yorker

And if you think this is buying Americans at least a little affection, think again.

The Guardian

To clarify this point a little more, think about the question of depression.

The New York Times

And when they haven't sizzled, then a little controversy – think Janet Jackson's malfunctioning wardrobe – has helped raise the pressure.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When you intend to convey a brief moment of consideration, opt for the grammatically correct phrase "a little thought" or "a brief reflection" instead of "a little think".

Common error

Avoid using "think" as a noun, as in "have a think". The correct form in standard English is to use "thought" as the noun. So, instead of saying "I need a little think", say "I need a little thought".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a little think" functions as a noun phrase, although it's considered grammatically incorrect. As indicated by Ludwig AI, it intends to express the need for a short period of reflection or consideration. Examples from Ludwig show it used similarly to "a little thought".

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "a little think" appears in various sources, including news outlets, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. Ludwig AI suggests that it's an incorrect combination of words, likely intending to mean "a little thought" or "a little thinking". The examples in Ludwig demonstrate its usage in contexts where a brief period of reflection is needed. For formal writing and speech, it's best to opt for grammatically correct alternatives such as "a little thought", "a brief reflection", or "a moment's consideration". Though the phrase is relatively common, its non-standard nature makes it less desirable in professional settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a little thought

Replaces "think" with "thought", correcting the grammatical structure to use the noun form.

a moment's reflection

Substitutes the entire phrase with a more formal and grammatically sound alternative.

a brief consideration

Employs "consideration" to denote a short period of thinking.

a quick think

Uses "quick" instead of "little" to modify "think", maintaining the informal tone while improving the phrasing.

to think briefly

Rephrases the idea using an adverb to modify the verb "think".

a short deliberation

Replaces the original phrase with a more formal term, "deliberation", suggesting a careful consideration.

to ponder briefly

Uses the verb "ponder" instead of "think", indicating a deeper, though still brief, reflection.

a fleeting thought

Focuses on the brevity and transient nature of the thought itself.

a mental note

Shifts the focus to the outcome of the thought process: forming a quick note in one's mind.

a light consideration

Employs the adjective "light" to convey the lack of depth of the consideration.

FAQs

Is "a little think" grammatically correct?

No, "a little think" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. The proper phrasing is "a little thought" or "a brief reflection".

What's a more formal way to say "a little think"?

A more formal alternative to "a little think" would be "a brief consideration" or "a moment's reflection".

Can I use "a little think" in casual conversation?

While "a little think" might be understood in very informal contexts, it's generally better to use "a little thought" even in casual conversation to maintain grammatical correctness.

What can I say instead of "a little think" to mean 'to consider something briefly'?

You can use phrases like "to think briefly", "to ponder briefly", or simply "to give it some thought" instead of "a little think".