at the mind

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at the mind" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is not commonly used and may confuse readers, as it lacks context and clarity. Example: "The concept was difficult to grasp, lingering at the mind of the students."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

As these hypothetical microthreats ate at the mind, rescue workers were piling up real bodies — 10,000 so far — killed by crushing waves or their aftereffects, deaths caused by gravity, not nuclear forces.

The New York Times

I'm the founder and lead mindfulness coach at The Mind & Sport Institute and host of tea library tv!

Huffington Post

Vinny Ferraro and Chris McKenna at the Mind Body Awareness Project (MBA) in Oakland, California, are two tough dudes bringing mindfulness to youth in a postindustrial city with a high rate of gang activity.

University of California, Berkeley

He glanced at the Mind Map, where the word "wave" was written.

The New Yorker

The pills target genital capillaries; they don't aim at the mind.

The New York Times - Magazine

Brooke Lavelle-Heineberg, Ph.D., is a senior program officer at the Mind and Life Institute and co-founder of the Cognitively-Based Compatsion Training program at Emory University.

University of California, Berkeley

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

Christiansen and Dubreuil are planning to co-teach a seminar looking at the mind, cultural evolution and manifestations of mind in poetry and literature, as an outcome of and also as a reaction to cultural evolution.

Cornell University

And here at the MIND Institute at the University of California Davis Medical Center, researchers are watching babies like Emilio in a pioneering effort to determine whether they can benefit from specific treatments.

The New York Times - Health

He eschews many fairly standard interests, although he is an expert at the "mind-fuck".

The Guardian

But they offer a revealing — and appalling — look at the mind-set of one of our two major political parties.

The New York Times

These questions do not offer obvious sound bites but instead aim at the mind-set and ethics of investment banking near the climax of a long-running boom.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "at the mind" in formal writing. Opt for more standard prepositions such as "in the mind" or "within the mind" for improved clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

A common mistake is using prepositions other than "in" or "within" when referring to the location of thoughts or ideas. For example, instead of saying "the idea lingered at the mind", use "the idea lingered in the mind" for grammatical accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at the mind" functions as a prepositional phrase, but its usage is grammatically questionable. Ludwig AI highlights its infrequency and suggests that it is not correct in standard English. It typically attempts to indicate a location or direction related to thought processes.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Science

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "at the mind" is grammatically incorrect and rarely used in standard English. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is not correct. While it attempts to convey a relationship or location concerning mental processes, its non-standard form often leads to confusion. It's advisable to use more conventional phrases like "in the mind" or "on the mind" for clearer communication. The phrase's limited presence in news, academic, and scientific sources further underscores its infrequent and potentially inappropriate usage in formal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in the mind

Replaces "at" with "in", creating a more standard and grammatically correct prepositional phrase.

within the mind

Similar to "in the mind", but emphasizes the internal location of the thought or concept.

to the mind

Indicates direction or a stimulus affecting the mind.

on the mind

Suggests something is being actively considered or worried about.

in one's thoughts

A more idiomatic way to express that something is being thought about.

occupying the mind

Indicates something is taking up space or attention in the mind.

present in the mind

Highlights the current awareness or consciousness of something.

before the mind

Suggests something is vividly imagined or remembered.

entering the mind

Describes the act of a thought or idea coming into consciousness.

crossing one's mind

Indicates a fleeting thought or idea.

FAQs

What's a more appropriate way to say "at the mind"?

More suitable alternatives include "in the mind", which refers to something contained within one's thoughts, or "on the mind", indicating something being actively considered or worried about. Context is key when choosing the best replacement.

How can I use the phrase "in the mind" correctly?

Use "in the mind" to describe the location of a thought, idea, or memory. For example, "The solution was clear "in the mind" of the experienced programmer."

What's the difference between "in the mind" and "on the mind"?

"In the mind" generally refers to the location of a thought or idea, while "on the mind" indicates that someone is actively thinking about something, possibly with concern. For example, "The project was constantly "on the mind" of the team leader."

Is "at the mind" ever grammatically correct?

While exceptionally rare and generally discouraged, "at the mind" might be used in highly specialized or experimental writing. However, standard English prefers "in the mind" or related alternatives for clarity and grammatical correctness.