conceive a plan

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "conceive a plan" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the process of developing or formulating a strategy or idea. Example: "After several brainstorming sessions, the team was finally able to conceive a plan that addressed all the project's challenges."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Mullaney helped conceive a plan.

The New York Times - Magazine

Together, they conceive a plan to flush out a Western-educated al-Qaeda boss by creating a fictitious rival group.

The Guardian - Film

Park officials unveiled their general ideas for redevelopment last year, but it was not until they retained a nearby local architectural firm to conceive a plan did the idea of moving the bell come to light.

The New York Times - Travel

The survivors are informed of the plan by the "Other" Karl Blake Bashofff) and conceive a plan to kill the Others with dynamite-rigged tents.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Sabeti and her team conceived a plan to obtain samples of blood from people infected with Ebola.

The New Yorker

The clandestine service, unhappy at being thought of as a billion-dollar news bureau, conceived a plan.

The New York Times - Magazine

Before the First World War, the British Admiralty conceived a plan to win rapid victory in the event of war with Germany—economic warfare on an unprecedented scale.

Harvard University

In 1894 he conceived a plan to publish a book of his impressions of Tahiti, illustrated with his own woodcuts, titled Noa Noa.

Encyclopedia Britannica

When the family cook dies, she conceives a plan to smuggle her boyfriend into the house by passing him off as a maid.

The New York Times - Arts

When Kailey conceives a plan to pluck Gulley out of school and flee with him across the Canadian border, he eagerly agrees to it.

The New York Times

It did not just buy in millions of mosquito nets and drugs; it conceived a plan to solve its own particular problem.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "conceive a plan" when you want to emphasize the initial mental creation of a strategy or idea. It suggests a deliberate and thoughtful process of coming up with something new.

Common error

While "conceive a plan" is perfectly acceptable, simpler alternatives like "create a plan" or "develop a plan" might be more suitable for less formal contexts. Choose the phrase that best matches your audience and the overall tone of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "conceive a plan" is that of a verb phrase acting as the predicate of a clause. It describes the action of creating or developing a strategy. Ludwig AI identifies it as a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "conceive a plan" is a grammatically sound and readily understandable expression for formulating a strategy or idea. As noted by Ludwig AI, it's perfectly acceptable in written English. While not exceptionally common, it appears across diverse sources, including news outlets, encyclopedias and academic publications. The phrase carries a neutral tone and may be swapped with synonyms such as "develop a strategy" or "formulate a scheme" to add variety to one's writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

devise a strategy

Emphasizes the inventiveness and skill involved in creating the plan.

formulate a scheme

Implies a more detailed and structured plan, often with a specific goal.

develop a strategy

Focuses on the gradual evolution and refinement of the plan.

craft a design

Suggests a careful and artistic approach to planning.

establish a blueprint

Highlights the creation of a detailed guide for future actions.

contemplate a course of action

Indicates a more thoughtful and reflective approach to planning.

think up an idea

Focuses on the initial spark of inspiration that leads to the plan.

imagine a solution

Highlights the use of creativity and visualization in the planning process.

originate a project

Suggests a new and innovative plan.

discover a method

Implies finding an existing or new way to achieve a goal.

FAQs

What does "conceive a plan" mean?

The phrase "conceive a plan" means to develop or create a strategy or idea. It implies a mental process of forming a plan in one's mind.

How can I use "conceive a plan" in a sentence?

You can use "conceive a plan" when describing the process of forming a strategy. For example: "The team had to "devise a plan" to overcome the challenges ahead."

What are some alternatives to "conceive a plan"?

Alternatives to "conceive a plan" include "develop a strategy", "formulate a scheme", or "devise a method".

Is "conceive a plan" formal or informal?

"Conceive a plan" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more straightforward alternatives might be preferred in very informal settings.