conventional belief

USAGE SUMMARY

"conventional belief" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a widely accepted opinion or idea. For example: "Conventional belief holds that the Earth is round."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

CONVENTIONAL BELIEF: The Lakers do not have the role players they need to win another championship.

The New York Times - Sports

The conventional belief is that, in an effort to track weapons, A.T.F.

The New Yorker

tests, and contrary to the conventional belief that I.Q. is essentially stable, all of them did better.

The New York Times - Magazine

CONVENTIONAL BELIEF: After shooting down Minnesota in the first round, Dirk Nowitzki is having a terrible series against the Kings.

The New York Times - Sports

CONVENTIONAL BELIEF: The Doug Christie who has resurrected his career in Sacramento is not the Doug Christie everyone knew from his days with the Knicks and Toronto.

The New York Times - Sports

"The conventional belief in softball has been that the underhand throwing motion places little stress on the arm," the researchers wrote.

The New York Times - Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

He is kind, fair and tender-hearted, able to move past conventional beliefs in order to see the bigger picture.

The Guardian

Another found that reviewers rejected papers with controversial findings because of "poor methodology" while accepting papers with identical methods if they supported more conventional beliefs in the field.

The New Yorker

As Thiel wrote in his book: "Unless you have perfectly conventional beliefs, it's rarely a good idea to tell everybody everything that you know".

The Guardian - Tech

Mr. Bhagwati, a professor of economics and political science at Columbia University, prefers to consider himself "a public nuisance," challenging established policies, stirring up protests and picking apart conventional beliefs.

The New York Times - Arts

The Internet, whose armies have laid waste to the conventional beliefs of retailing, brokerage houses and help-wanted advertising, has had a more subtle impact on political journalism so far.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "conventional belief", clarify whose beliefs you are referring to (e.g., "the conventional belief among economists").

Common error

Avoid presenting "conventional belief" as inherently wrong or outdated without acknowledging its potential merits or nuances. Always provide a balanced perspective.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "conventional belief" primarily functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It introduces a generally accepted idea or assumption, frequently setting the stage for a contrasting viewpoint or new evidence. This aligns with the examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "conventional belief" is a frequently used noun phrase that refers to a widely accepted idea or assumption. As Ludwig examples show, it commonly appears in both scientific and news contexts to introduce a perspective that is then often challenged or nuanced. While grammatically sound and broadly applicable, it's important to use the phrase with awareness, acknowledging whose beliefs you are referencing and avoiding oversimplification of contrasting viewpoints. Alternatives such as "widely held view" or "established wisdom" can offer subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

widely held view

Emphasizes broad acceptance and prevalence among a population.

established wisdom

Highlights the idea's long-standing nature and perceived validity.

prevailing opinion

Focuses on the dominant sentiment within a group or society.

common understanding

Stresses shared knowledge and agreement among people.

traditional viewpoint

Highlights the historical and customary aspects of the belief.

accepted notion

Underscores the belief's general validation and agreement.

received knowledge

Suggests that the belief has been passed down and inherited.

orthodox thinking

Implies adherence to established doctrines and principles.

popular perception

Indicates how something is generally viewed or understood by the public.

standard assumption

Highlights the use of the belief as a basis for reasoning or action.

FAQs

How can I use "conventional belief" in a sentence?

You can use "conventional belief" to introduce a widely accepted idea, often to contrast it with new findings or alternative perspectives. For example, "The "conventional belief" was that the Earth was flat."

What are some alternatives to "conventional belief"?

Alternatives include "widely held view", "established wisdom", or "prevailing opinion", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it always accurate to rely on "conventional belief"?

No, "conventional beliefs" can sometimes be based on incomplete information or outdated perspectives. Critical thinking and evaluation of evidence are crucial, as scientific advancements often challenge the "conventional belief".

What's the difference between "conventional belief" and "superstition"?

"Conventional belief" generally refers to widely accepted ideas within a community or society, while "superstition" often denotes irrational beliefs based on fear or magic, lacking empirical evidence. The distinction often lies in the level of social acceptance and the reasoning behind the belief.