can thought of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "can thought of" is not correct in English.
It seems to be a misconstructed expression and does not convey a clear meaning. An example of a corrected phrase could be: "This can be thought of as a solution to the problem."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

I can think of one.

The New Yorker

He can think of no better life.

The New York Times

I can think of no greater joy.

The New York Times

As comparisons, "I can think of Judy Holliday and Meryl Streep.

The New Yorker

I can think of two possible interpretations.

The New Yorker

I can think of no finer epitaph.

The New Yorker

Impossible as anything you can think of.

The New York Times

Every comfort you can think of.

The New Yorker

I can think of no good reason.

The New York Times - Food

I can think of a few.

The New York Times

I can think of worse habits.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use grammatically correct alternatives such as "can be considered" or "can be thought of as" to ensure clarity and credibility.

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "can thought of" as it's grammatically incorrect. Always ensure the passive voice is correctly formed with a form of 'be' (e.g., is, was, be, being, been) followed by the past participle.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "can thought of" is an incorrect attempt to use a modal verb with a passive construction. The correct form requires the auxiliary verb 'be' to create the passive voice. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is grammatically incorrect.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "can thought of" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in formal writing. The correct form is "can be thought of". As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase requires the auxiliary verb 'be' to create the passive voice correctly. Consider using alternatives such as "can be considered" or "can be viewed as" to express similar ideas with proper grammar.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

can be considered

Replaces the incorrect 'thought of' with the passive voice 'be considered', offering a grammatically sound alternative.

can be conceived as

Uses 'conceived as' to provide a more formal alternative, shifting the focus to mental formation or understanding.

can be regarded as

Offers a more objective viewpoint using 'regarded as', suggesting evaluation or judgment by others.

can be viewed as

Substitutes with 'viewed as', implying a particular perspective or way of seeing something.

can be interpreted as

Replaces with 'interpreted as', suggesting that something can be understood in a certain way, often when the meaning is not explicit.

can be understood as

Changes to 'understood as', emphasizing comprehension or grasping the meaning of something.

can be imagined as

Uses 'imagined as', focusing on the possibility of forming a mental image or idea of something.

can be looked upon as

Offers 'looked upon as', which suggests a more reflective or considered viewpoint.

might be contemplated as

Replaces with 'contemplated as', offering a more reflective or thoughtful consideration.

may be deemed as

Uses 'deemed as', implying a formal judgment or assessment of something.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say "can thought of"?

The correct phrasing is "can be thought of". The auxiliary verb 'be' is required to form the passive voice correctly.

What can I say instead of "can thought of" to sound more formal?

You could use alternatives like "can be considered", "can be deemed", or "can be regarded as" for a more formal tone.

Is "can thought of" ever grammatically correct?

No, "can thought of" is not grammatically correct in standard English. It always requires the addition of 'be' to form the passive voice: "can be thought of".

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

You can use "can be thought of" to express a possibility or way of understanding something. For example, "This problem "can be thought of" as a challenge."