intellectual notion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "intellectual notion" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing ideas or concepts that require mental engagement or understanding, often in academic or philosophical contexts. Example: "The philosopher presented an intellectual notion that challenged traditional beliefs about morality."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

And I find that absolutely amazing, just as an intellectual notion.

The New York Times - Arts

In this case, the intellectual notion was the inevitable paradox posed by following any of the nuclear strategies to their extreme limits.

The New Yorker

To stand out from the crowd, you have to be willing to give more weight to an abstract intellectual notion -- stocks' long-term historical return -- than to the very real losses you feel in your pocketbook.

The New York Times

His other films had involved putting novels on the screen, but "Dr. Strangelove," though it did have its historical origins in "Red Alert," a serious nuclear suspense story by Peter George, soon turned into an attempt to use a purely intellectual notion as the basis of a film.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

She took one of the marchers' slogans — "Ni Putes, Ni Soumises" ("Neither whores nor submissives") — as the name for her new organization, which had little in common with more bourgeois and intellectual notions of feminism.

The New York Times

Even his great intellectual contribution the notion that economies can remain in an "equilibrium" state with mass unemployment defies easy explanation.

The New Yorker

This might have sounded familiar to an audience of European intellectuals — the notion of Americans as either "a puerile backwoods clan," in Lewis's phrase, or else a boorish mass of humanity enthralled by industry, science, and high finance.

The New Yorker

It is conceivable that Alessandro Manzoni's I promessi sposi (1825 27; The Betrothed), often called the greatest modern Italian novel, gave 19th-century Italian intellectuals some notion of a viable modern prose style in an Italian that might be termed "national," but even this is a large claim.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Even his great intellectual contribution — the notion that economies can remain in an "equilibrium" state with mass unemployment — defies easy explanation.

The New Yorker

Universal basic income, a form of social security involving the state paying its citizens a regular unconditional lump sum regardless of whether they work, claims a 500-year intellectual pedigree, the notion of providing "everyone with some livelihood" having been countenanced by Thomas More in Utopia (1516) as an antidote to crime.

The Guardian - Business

This not only insults the notion of intellectual integrity, it dooms the drama critic to ignorance.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "intellectual notion" when you want to emphasize that an idea requires thoughtful consideration or has a basis in intellectual inquiry. Ensure that the context aligns with a formal or academic tone.

Common error

Avoid using "intellectual notion" in casual conversations or informal writing. Opt for simpler terms like "idea" or "thought" to maintain a natural flow.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "intellectual notion" primarily functions as a noun phrase, where "intellectual" modifies the noun "notion". It describes a concept or idea that is related to or involves intellect, thought, or reason. Ludwig AI presents examples that show how the phrase is used to refer to a fundamental concept or a basis for an argument or theory.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "intellectual notion" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a concept requiring thoughtful consideration, as confirmed by Ludwig. While not very common, its formality makes it suitable for academic, scientific, and journalistic contexts. Ludwig AI finds evidence of usage in sources like The New York Times and The New Yorker, and notes its suitability for describing concepts with an intellectual basis. When a simpler alternative is needed, consider options like "cognitive concept" or "theoretical idea".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intellectual construct

Combines intellect and construct and it is very similar to QUERY.

cognitive concept

Replaces "intellectual" with "cognitive", focusing on the mental processes involved.

theoretical idea

Substitutes "notion" with "idea", emphasizing the abstract nature of the concept.

abstract concept

Focuses on the abstract nature of the idea, removing the direct reference to intellect.

academic concept

Highlights the academic or scholarly nature of the idea.

scholarly idea

Similar to "academic concept", but emphasizes the learned or researched quality of the idea.

philosophical concept

Specifies the idea as belonging to the realm of philosophy.

mental construct

Emphasizes the idea as something built or created in the mind.

theoretical construct

Similar to "mental construct", but highlights the theoretical basis.

conceptual framework

Refers to a structured system of ideas.

FAQs

How can I use "intellectual notion" in a sentence?

You can use "intellectual notion" to describe ideas that require cognitive engagement. For example: "The theory presented a novel "intellectual notion" about the nature of consciousness."

What are some alternatives to "intellectual notion"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "cognitive concept", "theoretical idea", or "abstract concept".

Is "intellectual notion" suitable for informal writing?

While grammatically correct, "intellectual notion" is better suited for formal or academic writing. In informal contexts, simpler terms like "idea" or "thought" are often more appropriate.

What distinguishes an "intellectual notion" from a simple "idea"?

An "intellectual notion" implies a more developed, complex, or abstract idea that requires a degree of cognitive processing and understanding, whereas a simple "idea" can be more basic or straightforward.