having thought it over

USAGE SUMMARY

"having thought it over" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are trying to express the idea that you considered something carefully before making your decision. Example: After having thought it over for several days, I decided to accept the job offer.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Having thought it over carefully, Rousselot decided not to do anything.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Some people may be upset by what you say even after you've thought it over; you can't win them all.

WikiHow

Alderson said that Harvey had thought it over and had come to a new conclusion on his own.

The New York Times - Sports

offer it, and I then stated that we had thought it over and decided not to use it.

Yale University

He said he had thought it over, and we should get it from Cartelligent.com.

The New York Times

Oddly, there was another brief passage in "Looking for a Ship" that might have concerned him, but he made no comment, ever, and — who knows? — may not have thought it over.

The New Yorker

Oddly, there was another brief passage in "Looking for a Ship" that might have concerned him, but he made no comment, ever, and who knows?—may not have thought it over.

The New Yorker

I've listened to you, I've thought it over, and I'm going to reconsider".

Huffington Post

Return in a few days, after you have thought it over.

WikiHow

Woods's wife, Elin, also must have thought it was over, because she flew in with their baby daughter, Sam, for the occasion.

The New York Times - Sports

When I went to work after 9/11, racism came back into my life; I had thought it was over and done with.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "having thought it over" when you want to emphasize that a decision was made after careful consideration. It suggests a deliberate and thoughtful process.

Common error

Avoid using "having thought it over" to describe a snap decision. This phrase implies a period of reflection and careful consideration, not impulsiveness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "having thought it over" functions as a supplement, adding extra information about the action or decision. The gerund phrase indicates the action of thinking is completed prior to the main action of the sentence.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "having thought it over" is a grammatically sound gerund phrase used to convey that a decision or action follows careful reflection. Ludwig AI validates the correctness of this phrase, and while its frequency is rare, its impact is meaningful when emphasizing thoughtfulness. For alternative ways to express the same idea, consider phrases like "after careful consideration" or "upon reflection". Remember to use this phrase when you truly want to highlight that a decision was not made impulsively but after considerable thought.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

after careful consideration

Replaces the gerund phrase with a prepositional phrase, emphasizing the result of careful thinking.

upon reflection

Uses a more formal and concise phrase to indicate thinking about something.

after deliberating

Emphasizes the act of carefully discussing and considering something.

once I considered it thoroughly

Changes the structure to a clause, adding emphasis on the speaker's personal consideration.

on further consideration

Indicates a renewed or deeper level of thinking about something.

with due consideration

Emphasizes the importance of giving proper thought to the matter.

having pondered it

Uses a more literary verb ("pondered") to convey deep thinking.

after giving it some thought

More casual phrasing, suitable for informal contexts.

in light of my reflections

A formal phrase highlighting the speaker's thoughtful process.

after weighing the options

Focuses specifically on the process of comparing different choices.

FAQs

How can I use "having thought it over" in a sentence?

You can use "having thought it over" to introduce a decision made after careful consideration, for example, "Having thought it over, I decided to accept the offer".

What's a more formal alternative to "having thought it over"?

A more formal alternative is "upon reflection", which is suitable for professional or academic contexts.

Is "having thought it over" the same as "after thinking about it"?

While similar, "having thought it over" implies a more thorough and deliberate consideration than "after thinking about it".

Can I use "having thought it over" to describe a quick decision?

No, "having thought it over" suggests a period of reflection, so it's not appropriate for decisions made quickly or without much consideration.