mental forces

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "mental forces" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to psychological or cognitive powers, often in discussions about the mind, psychology, or philosophy. Example: "The study of mental forces reveals how our thoughts can influence our actions and decisions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

"The self may not be an aloof independent 'ruler' of body and mind, but neither is it an illusory product of impersonal physical and mental forces," he writes.

The New Yorker

He compares the analyst to the surgeon, "who puts aside all his feelings, even his human sympathy, and concentrates his mental forces on the single aim of performing the operation as skillfully as possible".

The New Yorker

"Either the device is extremely thin so that it bends when even a weak force is implied on it – which is hard to believe for Apple has been conducting many tests and experiments – or the energy and excitement of the millions of consumers stirred up their mental forces causing the IPhone to bend".

Independent

(The general notion of mental "forces" was not entirely new with Herder, but can already be found before him in Rationalists such as Wolff and Süßmilch).

SEP

Moreover, there is nothing in the original principles of Newtonian mechanics to stop mental forces arising autonomously and spontaneously, in line with common assumptions about the operation of the mind (Papineau 2002: Appendix Section 3).

SEP

Climate change is perhaps humanity's greatest teacher yet about how these mental forces, when unchecked in ourselves and our institutions, cause harm to other people and the living environment.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

But he's become a mental force too.

The Guardian - Sport

"The Germans have always shown physical might, tactical powers, mental force and have always had the players with a certain South American touch like [Felix ] Magath [Lothar] Matthaus, [Franz ] Beckenbauer

The Guardian - Sport

"However," he hastily added, "if I were to replace it with an IPhone 6, there is no doubt I would've been able to bend it with my mental force".

Independent

Rather, there is one mental force that does both resulting in either knowledge or firm belief.

SEP

Hume infers the existence of "habits" as a kind of mental "force" (EHU 5.2.2) analogous to gravity; the discovery of the "the principles of association," which in the Abstract he calls his most important achievement [see the section on Association in the entry on Hume in this Encyclopedia], are, then, analogous to the laws of motion.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing psychological or philosophical concepts, use "mental forces" to refer to the influence of the mind on behavior or external events. This phrase is particularly useful when describing abstract or theoretical concepts related to consciousness or will.

Common error

Avoid using "mental forces" when you actually mean "mental health". "Mental forces" refers to cognitive or psychological powers, while "mental health" describes the state of one's psychological well-being. Using them interchangeably can lead to confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mental forces" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. Ludwig indicates that it describes the powers or influences exerted by the mind, encompassing cognitive, emotional, and volitional aspects.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

43%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "mental forces" refers to the cognitive and psychological powers influencing behavior and events. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and highlights its use across news, scientific, and philosophical contexts. While not extremely common, "mental forces" is a versatile phrase suitable for describing abstract mental processes. Remember to distinguish it from "mental health" to avoid confusion, and consider alternatives like "cognitive abilities" or "psychological influences" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mental capacity

General term referring to the ability of the mind to perform various functions, such as learning, reasoning, and remembering.

cognitive abilities

Refers to the specific mental capacities related to thinking, reasoning, and remembering, emphasizing skills rather than general influences.

psychological influences

Highlights the impact of psychological factors on behavior and mental state, focusing on the external effects on the mind.

intellectual power

Emphasizes the strength and capacity of the mind for learning and understanding, suggesting a more potent or developed mental capacity.

cognitive resources

Focuses on the limited capacity of the mind to process information, similar to how physical resources can be expended.

mental faculties

Refers to inherent mental capacities or abilities, often in a philosophical or academic context.

intellectual resources

Highlights the cognitive skills, knowledge, and experience available to an individual for problem-solving and creative endeavors.

psychic energies

Suggests the existence of non-physical forces within the mind, often in a more spiritual or metaphysical sense.

thought processes

Describes the sequence of ideas and associations that occur within the mind, focusing on the mechanisms of thinking.

brainpower

An informal term indicating intelligence or mental capacity, often used in everyday conversation.

FAQs

How can I use "mental forces" in a sentence?

You can use "mental forces" to describe the power of the mind to influence actions or events. For example: "Climate change is perhaps humanity's greatest teacher yet about how these "mental forces", when unchecked in ourselves and our institutions, cause harm to other people and the living environment."

What are some alternatives to "mental forces"?

Depending on the context, you could use "cognitive abilities", "psychological influences", or "intellectual power" as alternatives to "mental forces".

In what contexts is "mental forces" most appropriate?

"Mental forces" is most appropriate in discussions about psychology, philosophy, or spirituality where the influence of the mind is a central theme. It's less common in everyday conversation about "mental health".

Is "mental force" or "mental forces" more correct?

Both "mental force" and "mental forces" are grammatically correct, but "mental forces" is more common when referring to a collection or range of cognitive or psychological powers. "Mental force" might be used when referring to a singular, specific power of the mind.