ill-conceived notion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ill-conceived notion" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an idea or belief that is poorly thought out or lacking in sound reasoning. Example: "The proposal was based on an ill-conceived notion that the project would be completed in half the time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Yet despite the prevalence of STDs in the industry, the ill-conceived notion that condoms and porn don't mix seems to have trumped common sense.

The Guardian - Opinion

That seems like a premature, ahead-of-the-curve, over-soon, half-baked, half-cocked, ill-conceived notion of a whim, but maybe that's just the Carpetbagger.

The New York Times

The Tumblr began as an ill-conceived notion to make me famous, and has become a great writing tool and a fun game for me to play.

The New York Times

In education, research on performance pay shows no substantive gains in student achievement, and all Mr. Obama's policy will do is reinforce the ill-conceived notion that low-level standardized tests are a valid measure of student achievement.

The New York Times

This field and its rarefied pool of individuals rapidly disabuses you of any ill-conceived notion that the intellectual gifts that propelled you through school and university are anything of real significance.

The Guardian - Opinion

It transpired that she had been bullied since starting school for being lighter skinned than the majority of her classmates, ostensibly because of some ill-conceived notion that 'all mixed race girls are loose'.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Even though cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in patients with CRF and end-stage renal disease (ESRD), ill-conceived notions have led to therapeutic nihilism as the predominant strategy in the management of cardiovascular disease in these populations.

The American Journal of the Medical Sciences

After its Indian love fest and long-delayed mini-romance in resource-rich Indonesia, the U.S. was accorded a most brusque bounce at an ensuing G-20 forum, which bridled at ill-conceived notions of managed trade and rule enactment and rightly left most participants cold.

Forbes

(Photo courtesy of Waitt Institute). 1. Align priorities between foreign scientists and local communities: Foreign marine scientists sometimes enter small island states with ill-conceived notions of what the research priorities should be.

Huffington Post

The intensity and suddenness of Lin and Tebow's acceptance has led to a flotilla of half-baked ideas about sports and religion and ill-conceived, even insulting notions about race and ethnicity.

The New York Times - Sports

Their appearance with Governor Bush at a rally three days before the New Hampshire primary was widely criticized by political strategists and even a few people affiliated with the Bush campaign as an ill-conceived publicity stunt that fed notions that the governor was inheriting, not earning, his place in the political sun.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "ill-conceived notion", ensure the context clearly explains why the idea is flawed. Providing specific examples or reasons strengthens your critique.

Common error

While "ill-conceived notion" is acceptable, avoid overusing it in highly formal writing. More direct and specific language might be preferable, such as "poorly planned" or "fundamentally flawed".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ill-conceived notion" functions as a noun phrase, where "ill-conceived" modifies the noun "notion". It acts as a subject, object, or complement in a sentence, typically expressing a critical assessment of an idea. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is suitable for describing a poorly thought-out idea or belief.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Science

18%

Encyclopedias

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "ill-conceived notion" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that functions as a noun phrase to express criticism or disapproval of a poorly thought-out idea or plan. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable. While it appears most frequently in news and media contexts, it maintains a neutral register suitable for a range of writing. Alternatives like "poorly thought-out idea" or "misguided concept" can provide greater clarity or formality. When using "ill-conceived notion", ensure the context explicitly explains the flaws of the idea in question.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

poorly thought-out idea

Replaces "ill-conceived" with a more straightforward description of the idea's quality.

misguided concept

Substitutes "notion" with "concept" and "ill-conceived" with "misguided", emphasizing a wrong direction.

flawed idea

Uses a simpler adjective, "flawed", to describe the problem with the idea.

badly planned scheme

Replaces "notion" with "scheme" and "ill-conceived" with "badly planned", focusing on planning failures.

unrealistic plan

Highlights the impracticality of the plan, instead of its poor conception.

impractical idea

Focuses on the lack of practicality instead of the quality of the idea's conception.

defective plan

Suggests a fundamental fault in the design or structure of the plan.

half-baked idea

Implies the idea is incomplete and not fully developed.

harebrained scheme

Indicates the plan is foolish and unlikely to succeed.

absurd proposition

Highlights the unreasonable or illogical nature of the idea.

FAQs

What does "ill-conceived notion" mean?

It refers to an idea, plan, or belief that is poorly thought out, impractical, or based on faulty reasoning. It suggests a lack of foresight or careful consideration.

What can I say instead of "ill-conceived notion"?

You can use alternatives like "poorly thought-out idea", "misguided concept", or "flawed idea", depending on the specific context.

Is "ill-conceived notion" a formal or informal expression?

It leans towards a neutral to slightly formal register. While understandable in most contexts, it's best to assess your audience and consider more direct language if a highly formal tone is required.

How can I effectively use "ill-conceived notion" in a sentence?

Ensure that the sentence clearly indicates what the "ill-conceived notion" is and, ideally, briefly explains why it's considered flawed. For example, "The project failed because it was based on the "unrealistic plan" that resources would be unlimited."