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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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a thought which is

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a thought which is" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when introducing or elaborating on a specific idea or concept that is being discussed. Example: "A thought which is often overlooked is the importance of mental health in the workplace."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"It's a thought which is always with us".

News & Media

The New York Times

However, it's not clear that we have to think of actions as being in our power in order to be motivated to deliberate; the thought that our actions are 'up to us', a thought which is undeniably involved in deliberation, might be understood in some way which does not presuppose power.

Science

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"I think this bill is premised on a dangerous thought, which is that immigration is a zero-sum game," she said at the meeting.

News & Media

Huffington Post

Nevertheless, there are ways in which LOTH can be helpful for an account of state consciousness that seeks to explain a thought's being conscious in terms of a higher order thought which is about the first order thought.

Science

SEP

We're the guy next to you at yoga, the barista at Starbucks... .. It's like Fight Club for supremacists, a deeply unsettling thought (which is why Eric loves it).

News & Media

The Guardian

At the same time, we are dealing with a line of thought which is related with the actual behavior of neural systems, so the terminology used, though of an abstract nature, has a close relationship with the processes in the brain.

Science

Plosone

Norris says that all thought exhibits a certain structure – formal thought, which is the act of thinking, and objective thought, which is the object of the thinking.

Science

SEP

This might require some thought, which is a drawback, because thought only gets in the way of writing bestsellers.

News & Media

Huffington Post

Out of the blue I say, 'Ever read a guy named Reinhold Niebuhr?' And he says, 'Yeah.' So i say, 'What did Niebuhr mean to you?' For the next 20 minutes, he gave me a perfect description of Reinhold Niebuhr's thought, which is a very subtle thought process based on the idea that you have to use power while it corrupts you.

News & Media

Huffington Post

The lower order thinking taxonomies and higher order ones and even the revised taxonomies of higher order thinking agenda proposed by Bloom are the due ingredients of higher order thinking thoughts, the thought which is a wise one and is considered a wisdom thought based on the unbiased judgment of the individual, unique in its time and place.

"That's what Godard was trying to do in the '60s, to find a way to represent thought, which is really something else than first act, second act, third act".

News & Media

The New York Times
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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a thought which is" to introduce a reflection or idea that requires further explanation or qualification. This construction is more formal and deliberate.

Common error

Avoid using "a thought which is" in casual writing or conversation. Simpler alternatives like "an idea that is" or even "that idea's" are often more appropriate.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

84%

Authority and reliability

4.1/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a thought which is" functions as a relative clause introducing further information or elaboration on a preceding idea. It's often used to qualify or define the nature of the thought being presented. As Ludwig AI suggests, the phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a thought which is" is a grammatically correct relative clause primarily functioning to introduce further elaboration on an idea. While Ludwig AI confirms its usability, its register is mostly neutral, leaning toward formal writing, and the phrase is relatively rare in contemporary usage. More common alternatives include "an idea that is" or "a concept that is". Key authoritative sources using the phrase include The New York Times and The Guardian, suggesting its appropriateness in professional and journalistic contexts.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "a thought which is"?

You can use alternatives like "an idea that is", "a concept that is", or "a notion that is" depending on the context.

Is "a thought which is" formal or informal?

"A thought which is" leans towards formal usage. In more casual contexts, alternatives like "an idea that's" or simply rephrasing the sentence might be better suited.

How to use "a thought which is" in a sentence?

Use "a thought which is" to introduce a reflective or elaborative clause. For example: "A thought which is often overlooked is the impact of small actions."

What's the difference between "a thought that is" and "a thought which is"?

While both are grammatically correct, "a thought which is" is generally considered more formal than "a thought that is". The latter is more commonly used in contemporary English.

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Source & Trust

84%

Authority and reliability

4.1/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: