expected to think

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "expected to think" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing assumptions or requirements regarding someone's cognitive engagement or decision-making abilities. Example: "In this role, employees are expected to think critically and provide innovative solutions to problems."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

Either way, they are not expected to think big.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Now, this is the sort of thing Ratmansky might be expected to think.

The New Yorker

I did something creative with students who have never been expected to think outside the box before.

The New York Times

Those approached in July, by contrast, received a deadline into the next year, and were expected to think of their deadline as unlike-the-present.

The Economist

Unlike English majors, we were required to take classes in a foreign literature and expected to think about big questions -- like "What is literature?" -- from a comparative perspective.

The New York Times

If insiders can't put the Italian collections behind them fast enough, what are mere mortals expected to think when they see the clothes for themselves next spring?

The New York Times - Style

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

"It is mistaken to believe you can outsource your memory to Google and still expect to think well," he said.

Independent

The new products came from people who you wouldn't actually expect to think of new products, but they were close to customers.

The New York Times

You can expect to think there is a lot of movement for the next few years – take note of all the very short contracts being done.

The New York Times

I recently went to some debutante presentations in Texas to research and was expecting to think, "This is elitist and weird and white and why did I participate in this when I was twenty-one?

Huffington Post

An official charged with seeking search orders can hardly be expected to always think very long about constitutional objections to such applications.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For clarity, specify who is doing the expecting and provide context for what they are expected to think about. This will make your writing more precise and less open to misinterpretation.

Common error

Avoid using "expected to think" in overly broad or vague contexts. Instead of saying "People are expected to think positively", specify who you're referring to and provide the situation: "Employees are expected to think positively about the company's future after the restructuring".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "expected to think" functions as a verb phrase expressing anticipation, obligation, or requirement concerning someone's cognitive processes. As Ludwig AI highlights, it commonly indicates an assumption about the cognitive engagement of individuals or groups in specific scenarios.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

21%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "expected to think" is a versatile verb phrase used to express anticipated or required cognitive processes. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in various contexts. It's most frequently found in News & Media, Science, and Wiki sources, suggesting its widespread applicability. When using the phrase, it's important to specify who is doing the expecting and what they are expected to think about for clarity. Alternatives like "anticipated to consider" or "supposed to believe" can be used to add nuance. By understanding these aspects, writers can effectively use "expected to think" to convey expectations in their writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

expected to consider

More precise, indicating a need for careful thought about something.

anticipated to consider

Focuses on the anticipation of considering something, rather than just thinking.

expected to understand

Emphasizes comprehension as the expected outcome of thought.

supposed to believe

Implies an expectation of believing something, often in a specific context or system.

anticipated to conclude

Highlights the expectation of reaching a conclusion through thinking.

required to contemplate

Highlights the formal requirement of engaging in deeper thought.

expected to believe

Focuses on believing rather than the broader act of thinking.

meant to realize

Shifts the focus to the outcome of thinking—realization or understanding.

likely to assume

Focuses on assumptions or predictions as part of the thought process.

predicted to reason

Suggests a prediction about someone's ability to reason logically.

FAQs

How can "expected to think" be used in a sentence?

You can use "expected to think" to indicate what someone is anticipated or required to consider. For example: "Students are "expected to think" critically about the presented material".

What is a good alternative to "expected to think"?

Depending on the context, alternatives include "required to contemplate", "anticipated to consider", or "supposed to believe".

Is there a difference between "expected to think" and "supposed to think"?

"Expected to think" generally implies a reasonable anticipation based on circumstances, while "supposed to think" suggests a rule or obligation. For example, "She was "expected to think" about the consequences of her actions" versus "She was "supposed to think" about the rules before acting".

Which is correct: "expected to think", "expected that they think"?

"Expected to think" is more concise and common. "Expected that they think" is grammatically correct but often less preferred unless you need to explicitly specify the subject. The simpler form is generally better.