or thought.

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'or thought.' is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used at the end of a sentence to indicate that the preceding statement could also be true in terms of a thought or opinion. For example, "I'm not sure I agree with you, or thought."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

Food that requires no work or thought.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Fails to correct this by real revision or thought.

The New Yorker

They spend scenes lost in transit or thought.

The New York Times - Magazine

"They want to be bad, or thought of as bad.

The New York Times

He's always tried to understand how I felt or thought.

The Guardian

Here, meaning cannot be separated from action, will, or thought.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

Perhaps you've come across an inspiring or thought-provoking blogpost?

The Guardian

I rarely read anything new or thought-provoking on it.

TechCrunch

or thought-provoking?

Huffington Post

It created confusion, not pleasant or thought-provoking ambiguity.

Huffington Post

Nothing was pre-planned, designed or thought-through in advance".

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "or thought" at the end of a clause to express a contrast between a previous assumption and a current understanding, adding a touch of self-correction.

Common error

Avoid using "or thought" in overly complex sentences where the intended contrast is unclear; simplify the sentence structure to ensure the contrast is easily understood.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "or thought" functions as a conjunctive phrase, typically used to introduce a qualification or correction to a preceding statement. According to Ludwig, it indicates that a previous assumption might not be accurate. The examples show that it's often used to express a change in perspective or a realization.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

24%

Huffington Post

18%

Less common in

Science

8%

The Guardian

6%

The New Yorker

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "or thought" functions as a conjunctive phrase used to introduce a nuance or correction to a prior statement. As noted by Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and typically appears at the end of a sentence to indicate a change in perspective. While commonly found in news and media, it's generally considered informal and is more suited to conversational or narrative contexts where personal reflection is appropriate. For more formal writing, consider using a more explicit expression to show correction or reevaluation. Consider alternatives like "or believed", "or considered", or "or imagined" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

or believed

Replaces "thought" with "believed", emphasizing conviction rather than a simple mental consideration.

or considered

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

or imagined

Replaces "thought" with "imagined", implying the idea might be based on fantasy rather than reality.

or speculated

Changes "thought" to "speculated", indicating a more tentative or uncertain consideration.

or surmised

Replaces "thought" with "surmised", suggesting an inference based on limited evidence.

or contemplated

Substitutes "thought" with "contemplated", implying a deep and thorough consideration.

or held the opinion

Replaces the single word "thought" with a longer phrase indicating a firmly held viewpoint.

or was of the view

More formal substitution, emphasizing a considered judgment or perspective.

or had supposed

Uses "supposed" instead of "thought", implying a prior assumption that may or may not be correct.

or had conceived

Replaces "thought" with "conceived", focusing on the formation of the idea in the mind.

FAQs

How can I use "or thought" in a sentence?

The phrase "or thought" is typically used at the end of a sentence to express a contrast between a previous assumption and a current understanding. For example, "I knew the answer, "or thought" I did."

What are some alternatives to saying "or thought"?

You can use alternatives such as "or believed", "or considered", or "or imagined" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What does "or thought" imply in a statement?

The phrase "or thought" implies that there was a previous assumption or belief that may not be entirely accurate or complete, prompting a self-correction or re-evaluation.

Is "or thought" formal or informal language?

The phrase "or thought" is generally considered informal and is more commonly used in conversational or narrative contexts rather than formal academic writing. In formal writing, consider using a more explicit expression of correction or reevaluation.