direction of thoughts

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "direction of thoughts" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
This phrase could be used in sentences to indicate that someone's ideas or mental processes have a certain focus or aim. For example, "The direction of her thoughts was towards finding a way to solve the problem."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

While many of the changes observed in the spontaneous group may have been induced by the presence of emotional stimuli as such, a specific mechanism must have been active to influence the direction of thoughts without recurring to voluntary control.

Plosone

This conclusion is consistent with attributing to cognitive control processes, like those underlying voluntary effort, a decisive role in determining the direction of thoughts and maintaining a positive mood [6] [7], and with modelling psychiatric disorders as involving the failure of such control [8] [11].

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

More personalised content delivered on the right channel at the right time seems to be the clear direction of thought.

The Guardian

In the 16th century, in terms of attitude and direction of thought, the first two great Epicureans were Michel de Montaigne in France and Francesco Guicciardini in Italy.

Encyclopedia Britannica

KE 22 Revolutionary books All too rarely, a book appears that irrevocably alters the direction of thought and culture, whether because of its content or the circumstances of its publication.

The Guardian

Joe Catrambone, spokesman for the Queens system, said in a statement the library "assures the right, the privilege and the ability of individuals to choose and pursue any direction of thought, study or action they wish".

The New York Times

Price's (1977) theorization takes a similar direction of thought, but instead presumes that turnover effects are not monotonic.

Frontiers of Business Research in China

This can both explain Zhuangzi's relativist direction of analysis and his recognition of sound Mohist/realist responses to Hui Shi's version of that relativist direction of thought.

SEP

Rather, the direction of thought should go in the opposite direction: mathematicians were free to construct infinitely many geometries and to see which applied to physical space.

SEP

Animal spirits flowing from the ventricles through the nerve fibers could then account for the direction of thought and action throughout the body.

Huffington Post

Each of them initiated a separate direction of thought in gerontology.

Aging

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing cognitive processes, use "direction of thoughts" to indicate a specific focus or aim within someone's mental activity. For instance, "The therapist helped the patient redirect the direction of her thoughts towards positive outcomes."

Common error

Avoid using "direction of thoughts" in very casual conversations. Simpler phrases like "what I'm thinking about" or "my focus" may be more appropriate in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "direction of thoughts" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often acting as the object of a verb or preposition. It describes the orientation or trajectory of cognitive processes. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

35%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "direction of thoughts" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that describes the focus or trajectory of mental activity. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for formal and semi-formal contexts such as academic writing and news articles. While "direction of thoughts" is not exceedingly common, it effectively communicates a specific orientation in thinking. For alternative phrasing, consider options like "trajectory of thinking" or "course of thought", depending on the intended nuance. When writing, use this phrase to pinpoint a focus of thoughts, and keep register in mind.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

trajectory of thinking

Changes "direction" to "trajectory" and "thoughts" to "thinking", emphasizing the path of thought.

course of thought

Replaces "direction" with "course", highlighting the progression of thoughts.

trend of thoughts

Substitutes "direction" with "trend", focusing on the general inclination of thoughts.

focus of thinking

Emphasizes the central point or concentration of mental activity by using "focus".

channel of thoughts

Uses "channel" to suggest a pathway or route that thoughts follow.

line of reasoning

Highlights the logical progression and sequence of thoughts.

drift of consciousness

Emphasizes the fluid and somewhat uncontrolled flow of thoughts in consciousness.

orientation of ideas

Focuses on the alignment and positioning of ideas.

pathway of cognition

Uses more formal terminology to describe the route of cognitive processes.

flow of mental activity

Highlights the continuous and dynamic movement of mental processes.

FAQs

How can I use "direction of thoughts" in a sentence?

You can use "direction of thoughts" to describe the focus or trajectory of someone's mental activity. For example, "The coach helped the athlete adjust the "direction of thoughts" before the competition to enhance performance."

What are some alternatives to "direction of thoughts"?

Alternatives include "trajectory of thinking", "course of thought", or "focus of thinking", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "direction of thoughts" formal or informal?

The phrase "direction of thoughts" is generally suitable for formal and semi-formal contexts, such as academic writing, professional communication, or news articles. In very casual conversations, simpler phrases might be more appropriate.

What's the difference between "direction of thoughts" and "train of thought"?

"Direction of thoughts" refers to the focus or aim of mental activity, while "train of thought" refers to the sequence or flow of ideas and associations in someone's mind.