a temporary belief

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a temporary belief" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a belief that is not permanent and may change over time. Example: "Her acceptance of the theory was merely a temporary belief until she found more evidence to support her own views."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

We can say that such success led to at least some temporary belief that we were lovable.

Huffington Post

Hypnotism may simply be the artful manipulation of attention, language, and context to establish an alternate set of temporary beliefs, which then influence perception and behavior.

HuffPost

They suggest that a common experience known as "sleep paralysis" may be the culprit, as this causes sleepers to experience a temporary immobility and a belief that they are being watched.

Britannica

Similarly, one can be skeptical, that it is only a matter of time, within this 'political carnival', we the citizens realize that this is only a make belief, a temporary coronation, with no realistic basis to it - yet again a disruption of expectations.

Huffington Post

Working himself up into a temporary blaze of half-belief, a possibility: a ghost in the dark.

The New Yorker

It is certainly not prompted by Slobodan Milosevic's guileful offer of a temporary ceasefire, nor even by the belief that NATO's bombing campaign may at last be causing some discomfort to his malign regime.

The Economist

It was difficult to assess whether advice by alternative practitioners to discontinue western medicines reflected their belief system of illness as a temporary phenomenon or because western medicines were in competition with their products, and thus their income.

BMC Health Services Research

This induced a temporary difference between groups in the strength of their belief in free will.

University of California, Berkeley

In its letter to shareholders, Twitter emphasized its belief that the fall-off was a temporary state of affairs.

The Guardian - Tech

Belief in the fast buck is at least a temporary casualty on Wall Street.

The New York Times

"But if you have a larger perspective, like a belief in God and an afterlife, and you lose your job, it's just a temporary defeat.

The New York Times - Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing beliefs that change with new information, use "a temporary belief" to accurately reflect their evolving nature.

Common error

Be careful not to use "a temporary belief" when you mean an uncertain or unconfirmed belief. "Temporary" refers to the duration, while "uncertain" refers to the level of conviction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a temporary belief" functions as a noun phrase, where "temporary" modifies the noun "belief". This combination specifies the duration or transience of the belief being described. As Ludwig AI says, this is perfectly usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a temporary belief" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to describe a conviction held for a limited time, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It is commonly found in news, academic, and scientific contexts, indicating its versatility across different registers. When using this phrase, ensure that the belief's transient nature is the focus, distinguishing it from uncertain or unconfirmed beliefs. Alternatives like "a fleeting conviction" or "a provisional belief" can offer slightly different nuances, emphasizing either the brevity or the conditional nature of the belief.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a fleeting conviction

Replaces "temporary" with "fleeting", emphasizing the brief duration of the belief.

a short-lived belief

Uses "short-lived" instead of "temporary" to highlight the brief existence of the belief.

a momentary conviction

Replaces "temporary" with "momentary", stressing the very brief duration of the belief.

a provisional belief

Emphasizes the conditional or tentative nature of the belief.

a conditional acceptance

Emphasizes that the belief is dependent on certain conditions being met.

a tentative acceptance

Focuses on the provisional acceptance of an idea rather than a firm belief.

a passing fancy

Implies a belief that is more whimsical and less serious.

a transient faith

Substitutes "belief" with "faith", suggesting a short-term religious or spiritual conviction.

a brief assumption

Highlights the brief and speculative nature of the belief.

a limited belief

Suggests that the belief is held only to a certain extent or under specific conditions.

FAQs

What's the difference between "a temporary belief" and a permanent one?

"A temporary belief" is a conviction that someone holds for a limited time, often subject to change with new information or experiences. A permanent belief is a long-lasting conviction that is less likely to change.

How can I use "a temporary belief" in a sentence?

You can use "a temporary belief" to describe someone's changing perspective or short-lived conviction. For example: "Initially, she held "a temporary belief" in the project's success, but later she changed her mind."

What are some alternatives to "a temporary belief"?

Some alternatives include "a fleeting conviction", "a short-lived belief", or "a provisional belief", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to describe a belief as "temporary"?

It's appropriate to describe a belief as "temporary" when the conviction is expected to change or is held only for a specific period or under certain circumstances.