ingrained thinking

USAGE SUMMARY

"ingrained thinking" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means a way of thinking that is deeply embedded or ingrained in someone's mind. Example: His ingrained thinking led him to always prioritize work over his personal life.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Confronting vested interests and ingrained thinking will be a slog but the rewards could be immense.

The Economist

The feedback is supposed to break through calcified defenses and challenge ingrained thinking, helping clients recognize the need for change.

The New York Times - Magazine

What the suits could learn is to challenge their ingrained thinking and recognise the power of inspiration and of dreams.

The Guardian

Specifically, it explains how the "tram-tracks" of habit and ingrained thinking, along with various cognitive biases, sabotage us, by directing our attention to the wrong things.

The Guardian

Francis is faced with the world's biggest bureaucracy and the most ingrained thinking on the planet.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

After consistently playing the fraternity 2048 game, this specific hierarchy could become implicitly ingrained in thinking and processing.

Huffington Post

In biology, the concept of evolutionary trees was not introduced until Charles Darwin's (1809 1882) mentioning of the "Great Tree of Life" in 1859 27, but it soon became deeply ingrained in thinking on the topic.

BioEssays

Chilcot says the intelligence community worked from the start on the misguided assumption that Saddam had WMDs, saying it was "ingrained" in their thinking.

The Guardian

After the two oil shocks of the 1970's and the birth of the environmental movement, energy conservation became such an ingrained way of thinking in many spheres of the economy that some companies said there was little further they could do.

The New York Times

Indeed, gradualism is now ingrained in SNP thinking.

BBC

YouTube is so culturally ingrained that thinking of a time before it existed is almost as mind-boggling as thinking of the pre-internet era itself.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing societal or cultural changes, use "ingrained thinking" to highlight resistance to new ideas due to deeply held beliefs. For example: "Challenging the "ingrained thinking" about gender roles is crucial for achieving equality."

Common error

While "ingrained thinking" is acceptable, overuse can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your vocabulary by using synonyms like "entrenched beliefs" or "habitual thought patterns" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ingrained thinking" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes a deeply embedded or habitual way of thinking, as supported by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

16%

Wiki

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ingrained thinking" is a grammatically sound noun phrase that describes deeply embedded thought patterns. While not extremely frequent, as Ludwig's examples demonstrate, it's used across various contexts, particularly in news and media, to analyze resistance to change and deeply held beliefs. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a valid and useful expression. For richer vocabulary, synonyms such as "entrenched beliefs" or "habitual thought patterns" can be used.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deep-seated mindset

Replaces "ingrained thinking" with synonyms emphasizing the depth and persistence of the mental state.

entrenched beliefs

Focuses on the belief system as the core element of the ingrained thought pattern.

habitual thought patterns

Highlights the repetitive and routine nature of the thought process.

deep-rooted ideas

Emphasizes the origin and strong foundation of the ideas.

firmly established notions

Stresses the stability and acceptance of the concepts.

conventional wisdom

Highlights the commonly accepted nature of the thinking, often without critical examination.

traditional viewpoints

Indicates that the thinking is based on long-standing customs and practices.

established perspectives

Focuses on the viewpoint as a firmly accepted way of seeing things.

fixed mindset

Highlights the inflexibility and resistance to change in the way of thinking.

settled convictions

Emphasizes the strong and unshakeable nature of the beliefs.

FAQs

How can I use "ingrained thinking" in a sentence?

"Ingrained thinking" can be used to describe deeply rooted beliefs or habits of thought that are difficult to change. For instance, "His "ingrained thinking" prevented him from accepting new ideas".

What is an alternative to "ingrained thinking"?

Alternatives include "entrenched beliefs", "deep-seated mindset", or "habitual thought patterns", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Which is correct, "ingrained thinking" or "entrenched thinking"?

Both "ingrained thinking" and "entrenched thinking" are correct and usable, with similar meanings. "Ingrained" suggests something is deeply embedded, while "entrenched" suggests something is firmly established and difficult to remove.

What's the difference between "ingrained thinking" and "conventional wisdom"?

"Ingrained thinking" refers to individual or collective thought patterns that are deeply embedded, whereas "conventional wisdom" refers to beliefs or ideas that are widely accepted as true, often without critical examination. "Ingrained thinking" may or may not be widely accepted.