it was thought to be

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of a sentence "it was thought to be" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is commonly used to express a belief or assumption about something. Example: The strange object in the sky was thought to be a UFO by many witnesses.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It was thought to be the largest of its kind at the time.

HuffPost

It was thought to be the largest of its kind at the time.

Huffington Post

It was thought to be safer.

The New Yorker

For one thing, it was thought to be incurable.

The New Yorker

It was thought to be lost and later replaced.

The New York Times

Another time, it was thought to be cellulitis.

The Washington Post

At the time it was thought to be an isolated incident.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The site was cheap because it was thought to be too steep to build there.

The New York Times - Arts

In 1980, it was thought to be 52; Google's computers place it at 20.

The New York Times - Science

Originally it was thought to be a viral marketing stunt or a computer-generated hoax.

Independent

In the 19th century, it was thought to be a neurosis.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "it was thought to be" with a hedging verb like "might", "could", or "may" to indicate a tentative or uncertain past belief. This strengthens the sense of speculation or uncertainty.

Common error

Avoid using "it was thought to be" without clarifying whose thought it was. Ensure the reader understands who held the belief to prevent confusion and maintain clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was thought to be" functions as a passive construction used to introduce a past belief, opinion, or understanding about a particular subject. It commonly precedes a description or characteristic that was attributed to something in the past.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Science

27%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was thought to be" serves to introduce a past belief, assumption, or understanding. As indicated by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and frequently used in various contexts. Its usage spans across news, science, and academic writing, with a generally neutral register. When using the phrase, clarify the source of the belief and be mindful of potential misattributions. Alternatives such as "it was believed to be" or "it was considered to be" can be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was believed to be

Replaces "thought" with "believed", emphasizing a stronger conviction.

it was considered to be

Substitutes "thought" with "considered", suggesting a more deliberate evaluation.

it was assumed to be

Uses "assumed" instead of "thought", highlighting a presumption without concrete evidence.

it was presumed to be

Similar to "assumed", but implies a stronger basis for the presumption.

it had been supposed to be

Emphasizes a prior expectation or plan that may not have materialized.

it was rumored to be

Indicates that the information was based on hearsay or unverified reports.

people thought it was

Shifts the focus to the general public's perception.

the assumption was that it was

Highlights the underlying assumption leading to the belief.

the general consensus was that it was

Indicates a widely held belief or agreement.

the prevailing opinion was that it was

Similar to "general consensus", but emphasizes the dominant viewpoint.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "it was thought to be"?

You can use alternatives like "it was believed to be", "it was considered to be", or "it was assumed to be" depending on the context.

How do I use "it was thought to be" in a sentence?

"It was thought to be" is used to describe a past belief or assumption. For example, "The disease was thought to be incurable at the time."

What's the difference between "it was thought to be" and "it is thought to be"?

"It was thought to be" refers to a belief held in the past, while "it is thought to be" refers to a belief held in the present. The tense indicates when the belief was or is prevalent.

Is "it was thought to have been" grammatically correct?

Yes, "it was thought to have been" is grammatically correct. It's used to describe a past belief about something that occurred even earlier in the past, adding an extra layer of retrospection.