given careful thought

USAGE SUMMARY

"given careful thought" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is usually used when referring to something that has been considered carefully, usually before a decision or judgement is made. For example, "We've given careful thought to the issue and are confident that we've reached the right decision."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Whoever devised the Darpa research proposal has given careful thought to all these nuances.

The New York Times

Military officials say they've given careful thought to their strategy and they simply can't afford to pay for more upgraded tanks.

The Washington Post

He let them know that he had consulted with Menoyo, and that they had given careful thought to what had happened in Cuba since the revolution.

The New Yorker

"I don't know if they've given careful thought to that threat," said Mr. Daschle, a South Dakota Democrat, "because I think it could easily backfire in many ways".

The New York Times

"We have given careful thought to the recent criticism of the character Dapper Laughs, which has focused on his activities outside of the ITV2 programme, [for which the] content was carefully considered and complied.

Independent

An ITV spokesman said: "We have given careful thought to the recent criticism of the character Dapper Laughs, which has focused on his activities outside of the ITV2 programme, whose content was carefully considered and complied.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

"It's very important to invest time to give careful thought and consideration in making decisions about end-of-life care," said Sunrise Vice President of Memory Care and Programming, Rita Altman.

HuffPost

In this context give careful thought to sentence construction.

The Guardian - Books

Any young British woman considering a career in prostitution should give careful thought to location.

The Guardian - Opinion

Give careful thought to prioritizing your goals, projects and tasks, then eliminate the bottom 20 percent of the list — forever.

The New York Times

You're also wise to give careful thought to how to spread the word about the couple's gift wishes.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "given careful thought", ensure the context clearly indicates who did the thinking and what was considered. This adds clarity and strengthens the sentence's impact.

Common error

Avoid using "given careful thought" when the context implies a lack of action. Ensure the phrase aligns with demonstrable effort or decision-making, rather than mere contemplation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "given careful thought" functions as a passive construction indicating that something has been thoroughly considered. As Ludwig AI explains, it suggests a process of deep consideration before a decision or action.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Science

24%

Wiki

19%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "given careful thought" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to indicate thorough consideration. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's appropriate for diverse contexts, primarily appearing in news, scientific, and general writing. The phrase suggests a deliberate and thoughtful process, assuring the audience that decisions are well-informed. When using "given careful thought", ensure clarity by specifying who did the thinking and what they considered. Alternatives like "considered thoughtfully" or "pondered deeply" can be used to add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

considered thoughtfully

Replaces "given careful thought" with a single adverb, emphasizing the manner of consideration.

examined closely

Emphasizes a detailed and thorough inspection.

thought it over carefully

Changes the structure to an active voice emphasizing the act of thinking.

weighed all aspects

Indicates a comprehensive consideration of different elements.

deliberated thoroughly

Highlights the process of weighing different options and viewpoints.

pondered deeply

Emphasizes the depth of consideration with a stronger verb and adverb.

analyzed comprehensively

Highlights a detailed examination with the goal of understanding.

assessed meticulously

Focuses on a detailed and precise evaluation.

reflected upon attentively

Uses more formal vocabulary to suggest serious and focused consideration.

scrutinized thoroughly

Suggests a detailed and critical examination.

FAQs

How can I use "given careful thought" in a sentence?

You can use "given careful thought" to indicate that something has been thoroughly considered before a decision or action. For example, "The committee "gave careful thought" to the proposal before voting".

What are some alternatives to "given careful thought"?

Alternatives include "considered thoughtfully", "pondered deeply", or "reflected upon attentively", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "gave careful thought" or "given careful thought"?

"Gave careful thought" is used when describing a past action, while "given careful thought" often appears in passive constructions or participial phrases. For example, "They gave the matter careful thought" versus "The matter was given careful thought".

What does it mean to say something has been "given careful thought"?

It means that the subject has been thoroughly examined, analyzed, and considered from various angles before coming to a conclusion or making a decision. It suggests a deliberate and thoughtful process.