a mere thinking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a mere thinking" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used to express a thought or idea that is considered insignificant or trivial. Example: "What I shared was just a mere thinking, not a well-formed opinion."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

That approach presupposed a conception of the individual as a mere thinking subject (or "thinking substance") who is radically distinct from the world and therefore cognitively isolated from it.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

A far-out variation of this has the computer responding to your mere thinking about a letter.

Forbes

A federal circuit court held that mere thinking violates the patent.

The New York Times

With international roaming charges so high, I reduced my e-mail and Web browsing to a mere trickle, thinking I'd save a bit of money.

The New York Times

No one finds it puzzling that one can acquire information by looking, feeling, or listening, but philosophers who have taken seriously the possibility of learning by mere thinking have often considered that this requires some special explanation.

Encyclopedia Britannica

While he reiterated earlier views about levels of activity, Bergsonian tensions of consciousness, and the structure of the social world, his work took a decidedly pragmatic twist, emphasizing "working" (Wirken) as involving bodily movements as opposed to the covert performances of mere thinking.

SEP

A dealer who owned his own business would work harder than a mere employee, the thinking went, and would not require a lot of outside monitoring.

The New Yorker

Schopenhauer describes reading as a mere surrogate for thinking for yourself, and in turn quotes the German polymath Goethe: "What you have inherited from your forefathers, you must first win for yourself if you are to possess it".

The Guardian - Books

Today, after a week where Brown's enemies have pummelled him for his dismal equivocations over the Lockerbie bomber, the backbench verdict might be pretty close to YouGov's poll verdict in yesterday's Sun, with a mere 16% of voters thinking Brown is doing a good job.

The Guardian - Opinion

We fail to attend to the no-thing of being when we think only of things, and especially when we think of thinking as a mere calculation of predetermined beings.

SEP

Let me know if you think this is forward thinking or a mere gimmick.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "a mere thinking" in formal writing. Opt for clearer and more grammatically accepted alternatives like "a simple thought" or "just thinking".

Common error

Be cautious when using "thinking" as a noun. While it can function as a gerund (e.g., "Critical thinking is important"), using it with the article "a" is often grammatically incorrect. Consider alternatives like "a thought" or rephrasing the sentence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a mere thinking" functions as a noun phrase, although its grammatical correctness is disputable. Ludwig's AI suggests it's not standard English, with alternatives like "a simple thought" being more appropriate.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Encyclopedias

18%

Science

18%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

8%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a mere thinking" is a grammatically questionable phrase used to trivialize a thought or the act of thinking. Ludwig AI flags it as not standard English. While it appears in diverse sources, its frequency is low, and it is advisable to use alternatives like "a simple thought" or "just thinking" for clarity and grammatical correctness. The phrase's occurrence spans various domains, suggesting it can be encountered but should be used with caution, particularly in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

just thinking

Omits "mere" for a simpler, more direct expression of the act of thinking.

simply thinking

Replaces "mere" with "simply" to emphasize the straightforward nature of thought.

only thinking

Uses "only" to highlight that it is just a thought and nothing more.

a simple thought

Substitutes "thinking" with "thought" to refer to the product of thinking, making it grammatically correct.

a fleeting thought

Adds "fleeting" to emphasize the transient nature of the thought.

a passing thought

Emphasizes that the thought is brief and quickly disappears.

just a thought

A more common and idiomatic way to express a simple idea.

purely thinking

Highlights that the action is based on thought without external influence.

merely contemplating

Replaces "thinking" with "contemplating" to suggest a more deliberate thought process, still keeping the meaning of "mere".

bare thought

Emphasizes the basic or fundamental nature of the thought.

FAQs

Is "a mere thinking" grammatically correct?

No, "a mere thinking" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to use alternatives like "a simple thought" or "just thinking".

What are some alternatives to "a mere thinking"?

Alternatives include "a simple thought", "just a thought", "only thinking", or "simply thinking", depending on the intended meaning.

How can I use "thinking" correctly as a noun?

Use "thinking" as a gerund (a verb acting as a noun) in sentences like "Critical thinking is essential". Avoid using it with indefinite articles (a/an) unless you mean "a thought" or "an idea".

When is it appropriate to use "thinking" in a sentence?

"Thinking" is appropriate when used as a verb (e.g., "I am thinking about it") or as a gerund (e.g., "Creative thinking is valuable"). Avoid using it with indefinite articles when referring to a single instance of thought unless you rephrase to use "thought" instead.