crude ideas

USAGE SUMMARY

"crude ideas" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use the phrase when you want to refer to ideas that are incomplete and/or have not been worked out in a detailed way. For example, "The team had some crude ideas for the new project, but they needed more time to develop them."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

The eugenicists had very general ideas about genetics and heredity, very crude ideas about intelligence, and deeply poisonous ideas about racial hierarchies.

The New York Times

Saddam would unite it under the wrong kind of political system, an ungodly dictatorship, and for the wrong purposes, the propagation of his own crude ideas about Arab power in the modern world.

The Economist

Simple, large things representing simple, crude ideas.

Vice

"Wouldn't that be much funnier?" Tatum asked them, before offering the team a string of crude ideas — almost all involving the body parts of elderly women — for their next sketch.

Los Angeles Times

While some will accuse Nilsson on instilling "crude" ideas into the minds of young women, she knows that they are already there and that attempting to suffocate them isn't an acceptable reaction.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

At that time, I had only a crude idea of what was involved.

The Guardian

But the analysts at rand considered massive retaliation a pathetically crude idea, an atomic-age version of Roosevelt's big stick.

The New Yorker

Lately we have been combining all three methods: I present a very crude idea in clay, that is then digitally and accurately interpreted in Rhino 3D, with the linear elements superimposed using Sketch Up.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Morrison's attack on Labor's policy was similar to the dire warnings from Turnbull who claimed in February that homeowners across the country would see the value of their homes "smashed" by Labor's "very blunt, very crude" idea.

The Guardian

Philosophers, by contrast, may wonder which serious thinkers, as she seems to suggest, have ever nailed their colours to the crude idea that deciding for ourselves means deciding outside any rules or without regard to others.In the last four chapters she gets down to cases.

The Economist

"We are only just beginning to appreciate the complexity involved and still have only a crude idea of what is going on in the undersea acoustic environment".

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "crude ideas", clarify that these are initial thoughts or concepts that require further development. For example, "The team presented some "crude ideas" during the brainstorming session, which we will refine in the next phase."

Common error

Don't assume that "crude ideas" are inherently bad. They can be the starting point for innovation. Frame them as initial concepts to be refined, not as failures.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "crude ideas" functions as an adjective-noun combination where 'crude' modifies 'ideas'. According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. The adjective "crude" indicates that the ideas are basic, undeveloped, or unrefined.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "crude ideas" correctly describes concepts that are in their initial, undeveloped state. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in written English. While not exceedingly common, the phrase appears across various contexts, including News & Media, Science, and Encyclopedias. When using "crude ideas", it's essential to convey that these are starting points and require further refinement, and not necessarily negative. Alternatives such as "rudimentary concepts" or "simplistic thoughts" can be employed to add nuance to the description.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rudimentary concepts

Emphasizes the basic, undeveloped nature of the ideas.

unrefined notions

Highlights the lack of sophistication and polishing in the ideas.

simplistic thoughts

Focuses on the oversimplified and potentially naive character of the ideas.

preliminary concepts

Indicates the early, initial stage of the ideas' development.

basic assumptions

Highlights the foundational and potentially untested nature of the ideas.

rough drafts of thought

Emphasizes the incomplete and provisional nature of the ideas.

raw concepts

Highlights the unprocessed and undeveloped state of the ideas.

immature perspectives

Suggests a lack of experience and depth in the formation of the ideas.

underdeveloped thoughts

Focuses on the incomplete and insufficiently elaborated nature of the ideas.

sketchy ideas

Suggests that the ideas are vague and lack detail.

FAQs

What does "crude ideas" mean?

The phrase "crude ideas" refers to concepts that are basic, undeveloped, or lacking refinement. They are often initial thoughts or preliminary versions of more complex ideas.

How can I use "crude ideas" in a sentence?

You can use "crude ideas" to describe initial concepts that need further development, such as, "The project started with some "rudimentary concepts", which evolved significantly over time."

What are some alternatives to "crude ideas"?

Alternatives include "rudimentary concepts", "simplistic thoughts", or "preliminary concepts" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to avoid expressing "crude ideas"?

Not necessarily. "Crude ideas" can be the starting point for innovation. It is important to acknowledge that they are initial concepts that require further refinement rather than final solutions.