current of ideas

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'current of ideas' is correct and can be used in written English.
This phrase is typically used to refer to a prevailing opinion or outlook held by a group of people with similar interests. For example, you could say: "The current of ideas in the environmentalist community is that fossil fuels should be phased out as quickly as possible."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

As the Chinese expand trade with the West and make greater use of computers and the Internet, the thinking goes, an unstoppable current of ideas will spur political reform.

The New York Times

More recently, the Canadian Center for Architecture in Montreal scooped up the archive of Peter Eisenman and the works of a handful of other American architects as part of its program to focus exclusively on projects and people "who make new proposals to the international current of ideas," said Nicholas Olsberg, chief curator at the center.

The New York Times

In subsequent decades perhaps the most-prominent current of ideas that can be called Pan-Africanist has been the Afrocentric movement, as espoused by such black intellectuals as Molefi Asante of Temple University, Cheikh Anta Diop of Senegal, the American historian Carter G. Woodson, and Maulana Ron Karenga, the creator of Kwanzaa.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Obviously McGurn and I have rather different views about what constitute the "best" of conservatism's current stable of ideas.

The New York Times

Reality shows, like the fast-food franchising of movie characters and television shows, are just another symptom of Hollywood's current deficit of ideas: its ham-handed efforts to fill an ever deepening vacuum of ideas with cheap, lowest-common-denominator spectacles and low-risk, easy-to-merchandise sequels.

The New York Times

The current explosion of ideas and art forms is the fruit of seeds sown by film director Rithy Panh's painstaking labour of memory, by the paintings by Vann Nath and the publications of the Reyum Institute of Arts and Culture in Phnom Penh, headed by Ly Daravuth, a Franco-Cambodian artist, and Ingrid Muan, an American scholar.

The Guardian

However, the programme is to lose its in-house reporters and insiders claim that if it is moved out into NewCo it will suffer as it will not be able to commit resources to long-term investigations, plus it will miss the current exchange of ideas between the producer and broadcaster.

The Guardian

Gore is, to a much greater degree than Clinton, a man molded by the current of popular ideas.

The New Yorker

Local people call it a virtual economy, afloat on the billions flowing through daily, just as it once rode the currents of other ideas it got to first -- resort tourism, or trade with the United States in, say, Revolutionary War gunpowder, Civil War rifles, Prohibition rum or Bermuda onions.

The New York Times - Magazine

Dr. Hellstrom said that "3 of the 50 examples dated show art to have been created in Spain at around (indeed possibly before) the time of the arrival of modern humans, bringing current ideas of the prehistory of human art in southern Europe into question".

The New York Times - Science

"It's kind of a mishmash of current popular ideas, projected back into the Middle Ages".

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "current of ideas" to describe a significant trend or movement in thought, especially when discussing societal or intellectual shifts. For example, "The current of ideas favoring renewable energy is gaining momentum."

Common error

Avoid using "current of ideas" to describe a single, isolated idea. The phrase implies a flow or movement, so it's best suited for discussing trends or evolving perspectives rather than static concepts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "current of ideas" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It signifies a prevailing or influential trend in thought, as demonstrated by Ludwig's examples of "unstoppable currents of ideas" spurring political reform.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Encyclopedias

17%

Science

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "current of ideas" describes a prevailing or influential trend in thought. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usage across diverse sources like The New York Times, Encyclopedia Britannica, and The Guardian. As a noun phrase, it often functions as the subject or object of a sentence, serving to depict momentum and direction in intellectual and cultural shifts. While similar phrases like "flow of thought" and ""intellectual trend"" exist, "current of ideas" uniquely emphasizes a collective and evolving perspective. To effectively use this phrase, remember that it implies a flow or movement, best suited for describing trends rather than isolated concepts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intellectual climate

Emphasizes the prevailing atmosphere of thought and discussion.

flow of thought

Focuses on the movement of individual thoughts rather than a collective set of ideas.

intellectual trend

Indicates a fashionable or popular direction in thinking.

prevailing mindset

Emphasizes the dominant attitude or way of thinking within a group.

climate of opinion

Refers to the general attitude or feeling surrounding a particular issue.

wave of opinion

Suggests a widespread sentiment or belief.

dominant ideology

Highlights the ruling set of beliefs and principles.

intellectual movement

Describes a group of people who share the same beliefs or aims.

shared understanding

Focuses on a common interpretation or knowledge.

general consensus

Stresses agreement among a group of people.

FAQs

How can I use "current of ideas" in a sentence?

You can use "current of ideas" to describe a prevailing trend or movement in thought. For example, "The "current of ideas" surrounding sustainable living is growing rapidly."

What's a good alternative to "current of ideas"?

Alternatives include "prevailing mindset", "intellectual trend", or "climate of opinion", depending on the specific context.

Is "current of thought" the same as "current of ideas"?

While similar, "current of thought" often refers to an individual's thinking process, whereas ""current of ideas"" typically describes a collective or societal trend.

How does "intellectual movement" differ from "current of ideas"?

"Intellectual movement" typically describes an organized group promoting specific ideas, while ""current of ideas"" refers to a more general and less structured trend in thinking.