as is generally thought

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as is generally thought" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to introduce a statement that reflects a common belief or assumption held by many people. Example: "The theory of evolution, as is generally thought, explains the diversity of life on Earth."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

If, as is generally thought, Simenon wrote around 400 books, then about 117 are serious novels, the romans durs that meant most to him.

The Guardian - Books

The subsequent loss of forests has been rapid and accelerating, but even so the rate of loss is only about 40% of that commonly supposed.Moreover, much of the forest of West Africa's past is neither as ancient nor as undisturbed as is generally thought.

The Economist

As is generally thought, continuously rotating detonation should keep going around the combustor regularly and has a fixed period.

Procedia Engineering

However, this implies that I-MIBG scans may not be evaluated as easily as is generally thought and that it is important to rule out physiological uptake, e.g. by using SPECT-CT scans.

Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

Our finding further highlights the importance of not overlooking potential function by the sSNPs, which may not be as selectively neutral as is generally thought[ 29], an important consideration given the expected wealth of complex-disease association data to come out of the new genotyping technologies.

BMC Genomics

Rather than being first draw to a woman's chest, as is generally thought, research reveals that men are actually first attracted to the eyes, not the cleavage.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

He also became concerned that Mr. Hoffenberg, who was said to have made a huge fortune out of debt-collecting, might not be quite as rich as was generally thought.

The New Yorker

When these operations were performed, Kellogg was witness to "a strangely large brain, one with elaborate patterns of convolution such as were generally thought to be more or less unique to human beings".

The New York Times - Books

A second surprise was that the exit step from the liver sinusoids occurs by endothelial cell traversal, a process that does not appear to require Küpffer cells as was generally thought.

EMBO Molecular Medicine

The word "Lent" is itself not so ancient, or specifically Christian, as it is generally thought to be derivative from the Old English term "lenctin" or in modern English, "to lengthen".

Huffington Post

This observation is important as it is generally thought that severe caloric restriction of 20 40% is necessary to achieve such effects [36].

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as is generally thought" to introduce an idea that is commonly held but might not be entirely accurate or proven, inviting critical evaluation.

Common error

Avoid using "as is generally thought" when presenting well-established facts or conclusions supported by strong evidence; instead, state the facts directly without implying potential doubt.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as is generally thought" functions as an introductory element, setting the stage for a statement that reflects a common or widespread belief. As Ludwig AI suggests, it's usable and correct. This introductory phrase often precedes a claim that might be subject to further examination or qualification.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

43%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

14%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "as is generally thought" is a grammatically sound and usable expression employed to introduce a statement reflecting a common belief or assumption. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While seemingly straightforward, its impact lies in preparing the audience to consider an idea that may be subject to scrutiny or further discussion. Predominantly found in scientific and news media contexts, it bridges the gap between established knowledge and evolving perspectives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as commonly believed

Replaces "generally thought" with "commonly believed", offering a slightly more informal tone.

as widely accepted

Substitutes "generally thought" with "widely accepted", implying a stronger consensus.

as it is understood

Replaces "generally thought" with "it is understood", focusing on comprehension rather than opinion.

as many assume

Uses "many assume" instead of "generally thought", suggesting a potentially unverified assumption.

the prevailing wisdom suggests

Replaces the entire phrase with a more formal and academic expression, emphasizing established knowledge.

it is the common perception

Highlights that something is a widespread perception.

it is the conventional wisdom

Emphasizes traditional beliefs or assumptions.

the general consensus is

Focuses on agreement among people about something.

it's popularly imagined

Indicates that something is a popular idea or belief, which may not be entirely accurate.

it is often presumed

Suggests something is often taken for granted without concrete proof.

FAQs

What does "as is generally thought" mean?

The phrase "as is generally thought" indicates that a particular idea or belief is commonly held or accepted by many people. It introduces a statement that reflects a widespread opinion, though it may not necessarily be definitively proven or universally true.

How can I use "as is generally thought" in a sentence?

Use "as is generally thought" to preface a statement that represents a common belief or assumption. For example: "As is generally thought, exercise is beneficial for both physical and mental health."

What can I say instead of "as is generally thought"?

You can use alternatives like "as commonly believed", "as widely accepted", or "as it is understood" depending on the context.

Is "as is generally thought" the same as "as is widely known"?

While both phrases introduce information, "as is generally thought" implies a common belief or assumption, whereas "as is widely known" suggests a fact that is broadly recognized and verified.