in her thoughts

USAGE SUMMARY

"in her thoughts" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe the internal thoughts or feelings of a person. Example: As she watched the sun set, she had a bittersweet feeling in her thoughts.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

50 human-written examples

This wasn't the finish line foremost in her thoughts.

The New York Times - Magazine

She is absorbed in her thoughts, and yet uncannily seems to see through the viewer.

The New York Times - Arts

There is no more powerful way that she could tell me I'm in her thoughts.

The New York Times

But he remained in her thoughts and the subject of stories she told for years afterward.

The New York Times - Arts

They're silent, she absorbed in her thoughts, he in the paper.

The New Yorker

She looked lost in her thoughts, mentally suffering for her art.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

10 human-written examples

She was very accurate in her thought processes.

The Guardian

"Treason was in her thought, / And cunningly to yield herself she sought.

The Guardian - Books

Mrs. Berman yields to no one in her thought that overgrown houses can be an environmental and aesthetic horror.

The New York Times

She was also aware of a nagging undercurrent in her thought — "that what I should really do in my life is help the poor.

The New Yorker

As Ms. Brown noted in her thought-provoking article, different patients can experience different levels of physical or emotional distress during or immediately after their discharge.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in her thoughts" to convey that someone is considering, remembering, or preoccupied with something. It's suitable for narrative and descriptive writing where you want to express a character's internal state.

Common error

Avoid using "in her thoughts" when you actually mean "on her mind" if you want to emphasize current awareness or worry, as "in her thoughts" has a broader meaning of something present in her mental space.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in her thoughts" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase modifying a verb or noun. It describes the location of something within someone's mental space, indicating contemplation, remembrance, or preoccupation as Ludwig AI confirms.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Science

1%

Wiki

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in her thoughts" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe someone's internal mental state. As Ludwig AI confirms, it effectively conveys that a person is contemplating, remembering, or preoccupied with something. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, the phrase maintains a neutral register suitable for a wide range of writing styles. When using "in her thoughts", consider the specific nuance you wish to convey, as alternatives like "on her mind" or "occupying her thoughts" might be more precise depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in her mind

This alternative is a more general way of saying something exists within her mental space.

occupying her thoughts

This phrase indicates a state of mental engagement or concern.

on her mind

This alternative suggests something is currently being considered or worried about.

at the forefront of her mind

This suggests something is a primary consideration or concern.

preoccupying her

This alternative suggests something is dominating her thoughts and attention.

a concern for her

This indicates a feeling of care or worry about something.

something she contemplated

This phrase implies that she is considering something thoughtfully.

under consideration by her

This alternative implies a more formal and deliberate evaluation.

something she pondered

This suggests reflective thinking over time.

within the scope of her thoughts

This emphasizes the inclusion of something within her cognitive awareness.

FAQs

How can I use "in her thoughts" in a sentence?

You can use "in her thoughts" to indicate that someone is contemplating something, remembering someone, or generally has something present in their mind. For example, "He remained "on her mind" long after he left".

What are some alternatives to saying "in her thoughts"?

Alternatives include phrases like "on her mind", "preoccupying her", or "occupying her thoughts", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more formal to say "in her thoughts" or "on her mind"?

"In her thoughts" is generally considered neutral, while "on her mind" can sometimes imply a sense of worry or immediate concern, making it slightly more informal depending on the context.

How does "in her thoughts" differ from "in her mind"?

"In her mind" generally refers to a broader mental space or belief system, whereas "in her thoughts" usually refers to specific considerations or memories. For instance, you might say "That idea is firmly "in her mind"" to mean she believes it strongly.