deceived into thinking that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "deceived into thinking that" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when describing a situation where someone is misled or tricked into holding a false belief. Example: She was deceived into thinking that the offer was genuine. Alternative expressions include "misled to believe that" and "fooled into believing that."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

But we've been deceived into thinking that's the endgame.

The Guardian - Music

And thus we are deceived into thinking that the work is the key to their success.

Harvard Business Review

One can easily be deceived into thinking that most wine enthusiasts these days look down on anything under $10, even in the retail shops.

The New York Times

The people of this state should not be deceived into thinking that the verbal threshold is a panacea for automobile-insurance reform.

The New York Times

And more than a few parents have been deceived into thinking that their children could not possibly be using heroin because they do not look like addicts.

The New York Times

One example comes in an exchange between Xerxes and Romilda, after she has been deceived into thinking that her own Arsamene loves another.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

In 2011, players launched a class-action lawsuit against the N.F.L., alleging that it had "ignored and concealed" evidence about the "risks of permanent brain damage," and had "deceived players" into thinking that serial concussions did not pose "life-altering risks".

The New Yorker

The names are specifically chosen to deceive the voting public into thinking that candidates whose names are listed in the slate mailers are endorsed by established organizations--when in reality the slate mailers are produced by only a few people.

Los Angeles Times

The American public might be deceived into thinking so, if you allow him to participate in some other sort of legislation that seems like an OK deal.

Huffington Post

Guthrie views the cosmology as Parmenides' best attempt at giving an account of the sensible world, given that we will continue to be deceived into thinking it exists despite his arguments to the contrary.

SEP

If a chemist, knowing that aldrin has been applied, tests for it, he will be deceived into thinking all residues have been dissipated.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Place the agent of deception (if known) at the start of the sentence for an active construction, or keep it passive to focus on the victim's state of mind.

Common error

Avoid using 'deceived to think that' or 'deceived in thinking that'. The idiomatic construction always requires the preposition 'into' to indicate the transition from a state of truth to a state of false belief.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "deceived into thinking that" functions as a passive verbal construction followed by a prepositional phrase and a content clause. It describes a cognitive state induced by external misinformation. According to Ludwig AI, this structure is standard and grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

20%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "deceived into thinking that" is a robust and sophisticated English phrase used to describe the successful implementation of a falsehood. It is highly prevalent in quality journalism and academic discourse, appearing regularly in sources like The New Yorker and The New York Times. The phrase is structurally sound and effectively underscores the agency of the deceiver or the power of the misleading information. Ludwig AI confirms its status as a correct and highly useful expression for writers seeking to articulate complex psychological or social misconceptions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

misled into believing that

uses a slightly softer verb than deceived and switches thinking to believing for a focus on conviction

fooled into thinking that

carries a more informal or colloquial tone compared to the neutral deceived

duped into believing that

implies a more intentional or malicious trickery on the part of the deceiver

tricked into thinking that

focuses on the specific action of the ruse rather than the psychological state of the victim

hoodwinked into thinking that

uses more colorful, idiomatic language to describe the deception

deluded into thinking that

implies a deeper level of self-deception or a more profound break from reality

manipulated into thinking that

suggests a systematic or psychological influence rather than a simple lie

conned into believing that

specifically suggests a scam or fraudulent context

swindled into thinking that

usually associated with financial deception but applicable to ideas

lured into the belief that

suggests the victim was attracted to the false idea through some form of bait

FAQs

How to use "deceived into thinking that" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a situation where someone holds a false belief because of a trick, such as 'The public was "deceived into thinking that" the new policy would lower taxes'.

What is the difference between "deceived into thinking that" and "misled into believing that"?

While very similar, "deceived into thinking that" often implies a more deliberate intent to trick, whereas "misled into believing that" can sometimes be accidental.

Can I say "fooled into thinking that" instead?

Yes, "fooled into thinking that" is a perfectly valid alternative, though it is slightly less formal than "deceived into thinking that".

Which is more formal: "deceived into thinking that" or "tricked into thinking that"?

The phrase "deceived into thinking that" is generally considered more formal and is frequently found in academic and high-level journalistic writing compared to "tricked into thinking that".