could think that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "could think that" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing a possibility or opinion that someone might hold regarding a particular idea or situation. Example: "Some people could think that the new policy will improve productivity, while others may disagree."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

If only society could think that way.

The Guardian

"You could think that was very rude," Aline said.

The New Yorker

And how lucky I was to be trained in a place where I could think that was the case.

University of California, Berkeley

I didn't even know people could think that way," he said.

The New York Times

I can't believe you could think that!

BBC

"No one in the stadium or 2 billion people watching at home could think that was a penalty," he added.

Los Angeles Times

"I can't even imagine how you could think that way!" he said to me, over and over.

Vice

You could think that.

The New York Times - Books

But what if you could think that pain away?

MIT Technology Review

Well, you could think that the reason, perhaps, is that we're not responding fast enough.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

He claimed that only someone with a "dirty mind" could think that the relationship was homosexual.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine the phrase with conditional clauses to express hypothetical scenarios. For example: "One could think that the policy is effective if certain conditions are met".

Common error

While grammatically correct, overuse of "could think that" can make writing sound less assertive. In formal contexts, consider stronger verbs or more direct phrasing to convey your points with greater impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "could think that" functions as an epistemic modal phrase, introducing a proposition that is presented as a possible belief, opinion, or consideration. As demonstrated by Ludwig, the phrase is used to express subjective viewpoints rather than objective facts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

23%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "could think that" is a versatile tool for expressing possibility and subjective viewpoints. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used. Its neutral register and frequent appearance in news media make it suitable for various writing styles. While "could think that" is useful for presenting different perspectives, be mindful of overusing it in formal writing. Consider stronger verbs to enhance assertiveness. Remember that the frequency and authoritative sources identified by Ludwig underscore the phrase's widespread acceptance and utility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

might believe that

Replaces "think" with "believe" and "could" with "might", indicating a slightly weaker degree of certainty.

might consider that

Substitutes "think" with "consider", suggesting a more deliberate and reflective process.

could imagine that

Replaces "think" with "imagine", focusing on the possibility of conceiving or visualizing something.

it's conceivable that

Uses a more formal and abstract structure to convey possibility.

one might assume that

Replaces "could think" with "might assume", indicating a presumption based on limited evidence.

it's plausible that

Emphasizes the believability or likelihood of something.

one could speculate that

Replaces "think" with "speculate", suggesting a more tentative and less certain opinion.

it is reasonable to assume that

Uses a more formal structure to suggest that an assumption is justified.

you might surmise that

Replaces "think" with "surmise", implying a conclusion drawn from incomplete information.

it is understandable that

Shifts the focus to the understandability or expectedness of a belief.

FAQs

How can I use "could think that" in a sentence?

The phrase "could think that" is used to express a possibility or opinion that someone might hold. For example: "Some people "could think that" the new policy will improve productivity."

What are some alternatives to "could think that"?

You can use alternatives like "might believe that", "might consider that", or "could imagine that" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "could think that" in writing?

It's appropriate to use "could think that" when you want to introduce a potential viewpoint or interpretation without asserting it as a definitive truth. It's useful for presenting multiple perspectives and fostering nuanced discussions.

Is "could think that" formal or informal?

The phrase "could think that" is generally neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, in highly formal writing, consider using more assertive phrasing for greater impact.