be thought of

USAGE SUMMARY

"be thought of" is correct and usable in written English.
You could use it when you want to express that an idea or opinion is held by someone. Example: His courage in the face of adversity should always be thought of with admiration.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It will be thought of as watershed".

The New York Times - Science

Discounting shouldn't be thought of as charity.

Harvard Business Review

"Action shouldn't be thought of as trash.

The Guardian - Film

"I like to be thought of well".

The New York Times

Design can be thought of as a form of communication.

Thoughts on Interaction Design

Consequently, the superacids can be thought of as hydrogenated superhalogens.

Polyhedron

Queuing can be thought of as "bad latency".

An Introduction to Trading in the Financial Markets Technology: Systems, Data, and Networks

Hence, LMNA might be thought of as a 'lumper' gene.

Trends in Molecular Medicine

Variables can be thought of as containers that hold values.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

I also want to be thought of as a teacher.

Princeton University

Fusion can be thought of as the opposite of fission.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "be thought of" to express a passive perspective, indicating how something is generally viewed or considered by others. For example, "His actions will be thought of as heroic."

Common error

Ensure you're not accidentally using "be thought of" when an active voice construction is more appropriate. For example, instead of "He is thought of to be intelligent" consider "People think he is intelligent."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be thought of" functions as a passive construction, indicating how a subject is perceived or regarded. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It is used to express an opinion or idea held by others about someone or something.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Academia

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

15%

Encyclopedias

5%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "be thought of" is a grammatically correct and very common passive construction used to express how something is perceived or regarded. Ludwig AI validates its proper use in written English. As Ludwig's examples show, it's suitable for various contexts, including news, science, and academic writing. Remember to choose it when you want to highlight a general view or assessment rather than an active action.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be considered as

Replaces "thought of" with "considered", emphasizing a more formal evaluation or judgment.

be regarded as

Similar to "be considered as", but implies a degree of respect or importance in the assessment.

be viewed as

Focuses on the perspective or viewpoint from which something is assessed.

be perceived as

Highlights the subjective impression or understanding of something.

be deemed as

Suggests a more official or authoritative judgment.

be recognized as

Emphasizes acknowledgment or acceptance of a certain quality or status.

be understood as

Focuses on the interpretation or comprehension of something.

be known as

Implies familiarity or widespread awareness of something.

be interpreted as

Similar to "be understood as", but suggests a more analytical approach.

be seen as

A more casual alternative to "be viewed as", indicating a general impression.

FAQs

How can I use "be thought of" in a sentence?

Use "be thought of" to describe how something is perceived or considered by others. For example, "This decision will "be viewed" as controversial."

What are some alternatives to "be thought of"?

Alternatives include phrases like "be considered as", "be regarded as", or "be viewed as", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "be thought of as" grammatically correct?

Yes, "be thought of as" is grammatically correct. The "as" clarifies the role or characteristic being attributed. For instance, "She wants to "be seen as" a leader."

What's the difference between "be thought of" and "be considered"?

"Be thought of" generally implies a more informal perception or opinion, while "be considered" suggests a more formal evaluation or judgment. The choice depends on the context and the level of formality required.