a long time thought

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a long time thought" is not correct in English.
Did you mean "a long time ago"? If this is the case, you can use it to refer to something that happened a significant time in the past. Example: "I remember when we first met; it feels like a long time ago."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

Because the figures look distorted, they were for a long time thought to be dancing.

The New York Times - Magazine

Miller ran hurdles in high school and for a long time thought of himself more as a receiver or a tight end.

The New York Times - Sports

Within a short while Julian was successful enough in his undertaking to have aroused the fear and hatred of the Christians, who for a long time thought of him as the Antichrist.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The Swedish chemist Carl Wilhelm Scheele had demonstrated (c. 1778) that the mineral molybdaina (now molybdenite), for a long time thought to be a lead ore or graphite, certainly contains sulfur and possibly a previously unknown metal.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Now 47, she didn't begin to write until she was 40, and even then for a long time thought of it more as an interesting way to feed her creative urges than as a possible new career.

The Guardian - Books

My mother has always loved books, but for a long time thought her lack of university education meant she didn't have the qualifications to write or talk publicly about them.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Now a new study indicates that it - and our California drought - could be around for a long time: think centuries.

Huffington Post

The role performed by many on-demand companies -- matching workers with employers -- has been around for a long time (think garment "jobbers," farm labor contractors, and staffing agencies).

Huffington Post

Second, if you plan to stay put in your next home for a long time, think about what might happen to local home prices.

Huffington Post

If you've been friends with the person a long time, think of making a homemade gift.

WikiHow

"For a long time, I think maybe nobody thought we belonged there, but we went out and proved it".

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to past beliefs, consider using more grammatically sound alternatives like "formerly thought" or "previously believed" to ensure clarity and accuracy.

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "a long time thought" as it's not standard English. Instead, clarify the sentence by specifying who held the thought and when, using phrases like "it was long thought that" or "people once believed".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a long time thought" functions as a noun phrase, but it is grammatically questionable. Ludwig AI flags it as incorrect, suggesting alternatives should be considered for clarity. The phrase attempts to convey a belief or idea held over an extended period.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Encyclopedias

23%

Science

23%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "a long time thought" appears in various sources, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. This assessment is crucial for writers aiming for clarity and accuracy. Instead of "a long time thought", consider using alternatives like "it was once thought" or "previously believed". These alternatives are more grammatically sound and widely accepted. While the phrase does appear in news, encyclopedias, and scientific articles, this does not legitimize it; it is key to favor more established phrases. Therefore, writers should aim to use alternatives in their writings to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was once thought

Impersonal construction that distances the speaker from the original belief.

previously believed

Directly states that something was believed before, but not necessarily for an extended period.

in the past it was thought

Emphasizes the time frame in which a belief was previously held.

formerly thought

Highlights that the thought or belief was held at an earlier time but is no longer current.

long ago believed

Focuses on the belief held in the distant past, emphasizing the time elapsed since the belief was held.

once considered

Emphasizes the act of considering something in the past, implying it may have been a formal or deliberate evaluation.

they once thought

Highlights a group of people or experts who once believed something to be true.

used to be the thinking

Refers to a previous common understanding or viewpoint, now replaced by a different one.

earlier assumption

Refers to an idea accepted as true or certain to happen without proof, based on past experience.

past conviction

Highlights a firmly held belief from the past.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "a long time thought" to sound more natural?

Consider alternatives like "it was "once believed"", "people "formerly thought"", or "in the past, it was "assumed that"" for clearer and more common expressions.

What's a more formal way to say "a long time thought"?

In formal contexts, you might use "it was "previously believed"", or "historical "understanding" suggested" to maintain a professional tone.

Is "a long time thought" grammatically correct?

No, "a long time thought" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to use established phrases such as "it was long thought that" or "people used to believe".

Can I use "a long time thought" in creative writing?

While not grammatically standard, using "a long time thought" might be acceptable in creative writing if you're aiming for a specific stylistic effect or character voice. However, use it cautiously and consider the clarity for your reader.