changed their ideas

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "changed their ideas" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing how someone's thoughts, beliefs, or opinions have evolved or shifted over time. Example: "After much consideration and discussion, they changed their ideas about the project and decided to take a different approach."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Still, time has changed their ideas about what's romantic.

The New York Times

That changed their ideas about what they wanted out of life.

The Economist

Dr. Shain said adolescents often changed their ideas and their plans.

The New York Times - Health

The experimental results confirm that: (1) the participants' search performance in the instructional group supported by our instructional design improved effectively than in the control group; (2) they changed their ideas about important activities when seeking information on the Web, and (3) they activated their search cycles more than the control group did.

Computers & Education

By asking students to regularly write 200 300 words reflecting on how they have changed their ideas about course material and what their confusions are, the instructor can both gain invaluable insight into student thinking and promote students' metacognitive awareness.

CBE Life Sciences Education

In the Spring session of Biology10050, we included a question on a late-semester (in-class, open-book) exam, asking students whether the emails changed their ideas about science research or scientists.

CBE Life Sciences Education

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

From one match to the next they have changed their idea of what a winning team might be.

Independent

"A lot of people have changed their idea of what kind of tennis player I am," Stosur said.

The New York Times - Sports

Given that the team only started working on the project around two weeks ago, it sounds like they changed their idea late in the program (they're not the first to see success with a last-minute switch — Greplin founder Daniel Gross came up with that company a day before Demo Day, and later landed $4 million from Sequoia).

TechCrunch

Maybe if we Scots campaign harder and make a nice heathery movie about Robert Burns's coastal childhood, we could challenge their preconceptions, change their ideas.

The Guardian - Film

Basically, these works give people stuff to do together, fomenting "social transactions" that are supposed to change their ideas about both art and society.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair "changed their ideas" with adverbs like 'significantly', 'gradually', or 'completely' to more precisely describe the extent of the change.

Common error

Avoid using "changed their ideas" when the shift is minor or superficial. Use more precise language to reflect the actual degree of change.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "changed their ideas" functions as a verbal phrase indicating a transformation in someone's thoughts or beliefs. It describes an action taken by a group of people involving their cognitive processes. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

11%

Reference

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "changed their ideas" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe a shift in someone's thoughts, beliefs, or perspectives. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's appropriate for various contexts, ranging from news and media to scientific discussions. When using this phrase, providing context about what prompted the change strengthens clarity. While several alternative phrases exist, such as "revised their opinions" or "altered their perspectives", "changed their ideas" remains a versatile choice for conveying cognitive evolution.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

altered their perspectives

Focuses on a shift in viewpoints or outlooks.

revised their opinions

Emphasizes a formal reconsideration and modification of beliefs.

adjusted their thinking

Highlights a modification in the way someone reasons or understands.

reconsidered their views

Suggests a thoughtful review leading to a possible change in stance.

transformed their beliefs

Indicates a profound and fundamental change in what someone holds to be true.

shifted their paradigms

Refers to a fundamental change in underlying assumptions and frameworks.

recalibrated their understanding

Implies a fine-tuning or adjustment of comprehension.

adapted their mindset

Highlights the process of adjusting one's mental attitude or disposition.

evolved their outlook

Suggests a gradual and natural development of one's perspective.

modified their stance

Emphasizes a change in position or attitude on a particular issue.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "changed their ideas" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases such as "revised their opinions", "altered their perspectives", or "reconsidered their views".

What is the difference between "changed their ideas" and "changed their minds"?

"Changed their ideas" typically refers to a shift in specific thoughts or beliefs, while "changed their minds" suggests a complete reversal of a decision or intention.

Is it grammatically correct to say "changed their idea" instead of "changed their ideas"?

While grammatically understandable, "changed their idea" is less common and usually refers to a single, specific concept. "Changed their ideas" is more frequently used to describe a broader shift in multiple beliefs or perspectives.

In what contexts is "changed their ideas" most appropriately used?

"Changed their ideas" is suitable in contexts where individuals or groups have altered their viewpoints due to new information, experiences, or persuasive arguments. It is commonly found in discussions about personal growth, scientific advancements, and social progress.