a very nice thought

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a very nice thought" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to an idea that is pleasant or admired. For example: "His suggestion was a very nice thought, even if it wasn't able to be implemented."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"As a mother, that's not a very nice thought," Susan says.

The Guardian

"It's not a very nice thought, but there's a theory that it's the carnivore in us," she says.

The Guardian - Money

"What I tried to explain to Dick," said Ted Rogers, who was a television consultant for Nixon, "was he has a certain characteristic of his skin where it's almost transparent and it was a very nice thought to say, you know, 'I don't want any makeup,' but he really needed it in order to have even what we would call an acceptable television picture.

The New York Times - Magazine

That's a very nice thought.

TechCrunch

"It's a very nice thought to become a grandfather in my old age," said the 64-year-old heir to the throne, at HMS Belfast in London, where he was visiting the vessel which will accompany Sir Ranulph Fiennes Antarcticc expedition.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

In a very nice and thought-provoking essay [ 41], Stephen Hedrick thus summarised his views that our immune system is far from providing an ultimate and perfect answer to the permanent challenge of infectious pathogens.

Biology Direct

"A very nice letter from Vladimir Putin; his thoughts are so correct," Trump said.

Huffington Post

"A very nice letter from Vladimir Putin; his thoughts are so correct.

Vice

On Friday, Trump put out a statement in which he said he had received a "very nice letter from Vladimir Putin" and added: "His thoughts are so correct".

The Guardian

"A very nice man!

The New York Times

A very nice lady.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a very nice thought" to express genuine appreciation for an idea or suggestion, particularly when you want to acknowledge the positive intent behind it, even if it's not entirely practical.

Common error

While "a very nice thought" is acceptable, avoid overusing it in formal or academic writing. Opt for more precise and descriptive language to convey your assessment of the idea.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a very nice thought" functions as an expression of appreciation or acknowledgement of an idea. It's often used to recognize the positive intention behind a suggestion, as seen in Ludwig's examples. The Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a very nice thought" is a grammatically correct phrase used to express appreciation for an idea, according to Ludwig. While generally appropriate, its frequency is rare. Predominantly found in news and media, academic, and scientific writing, Ludwig examples show it signals acknowledgement and politeness, especially when the idea may not be fully practical. While the phrase is usable, consider stronger, more specific phrasing for formal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a thoughtful concept

Highlights the careful consideration behind the concept, replacing "nice" with "thoughtful".

a commendable idea

Replaces "nice" with a more formal adjective emphasizing the praiseworthiness of the idea.

an admirable notion

Employs "admirable" to highlight the worthy quality of the "notion", a synonym for thought.

a pleasant concept

Substitutes "thought" with "concept" to focus on the mental construct, while "pleasant" replaces "nice".

a delightful idea

Uses "delightful" to convey a sense of joy and pleasure associated with the idea.

a welcome suggestion

Frames the thought as a proposal, emphasizing its positive reception and usefulness.

a brilliant idea

Uses "brilliant" to express a high level of intelligence and creativity associated with the idea.

an agreeable proposition

Presents the thought as something to be considered and accepted, highlighting its compatibility.

a charming consideration

Replaces the terms with a more sophisticated language but keeps the essence of the context.

a gracious sentiment

Replaces the initial words with a more sophisticated vocabulary but keeps the essence of the context.

FAQs

How can I use "a very nice thought" in a sentence?

You can use "a very nice thought" to express appreciation for an idea, as in "Offering support is "a very nice thought", but we need practical solutions too."

What are some alternatives to "a very nice thought"?

Alternatives include "a commendable idea", "a pleasant concept", or "a thoughtful concept", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "a very nice thought"?

It's appropriate when you want to acknowledge someone's positive intention or a well-meaning idea, especially when it's not fully feasible or practical. It's suitable for informal and neutral contexts.

Is "a very nice thought" formal or informal?

"A very nice thought" is generally considered neutral to informal. For more formal settings, consider stronger, more specific phrasing that directly assesses the idea's merits or feasibility.