prevailing belief

USAGE SUMMARY

'prevailing belief' is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when there is a common opinion or idea shared by a group of people. For example: "The prevailing belief among the villagers was that magic was real."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

A Toronto official, however, confirmed the prevailing belief, calling Wells's version revisionism.

The New York Times - Sports

Thompson devoted his life to the study of Mayan culture and was able to extensively decipher early Mayan glyphs, determining that, contrary to prevailing belief, they contained historical as well as ritualistic and religious records.

Encyclopedia Britannica

As recently as the late 1990's, Dr. Bonnichsen said, the prevailing belief was that North America was first populated by a single group of people from the Siberian interior, the ancestors of American Indians.

The New York Times - Science

Suddenly, the prevailing belief was that markets are rational and dynamic, subject to predictable and precise calculations, while state regulation is inherently populist, irrational and economically destructive.

Huffington Post

Khalid becomes depressed and disenchanted with Alchemy (the prevailing belief of the scholars of the time) and decides to destroy all his Alchemical books (which come to Samarkand via the trade routes from all over the known world).

Wikipedia

Unfortunately, the prevailing belief that there is loss of capillaries in scleroderma is based on findings in nail fold capillaroscopy and is dependent on seeing columns of blood.

Plosone

In the early 1970s, the prevailing belief continued to be that the major concern with lead was exposure of children to lead-based paint.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Our results do not refute prevailing belief in the literature that the US is a big health care spender and does not consistently deliver the highest quality health care or achieve the best health outcomes.

BMC Health Services Research

What is the "prevailing belief" about brain cell renewal?

The New York Times

"The prevailing belief is that change is coming soon, but the question is how.

The New York Times

Today's prevailing belief is that most, if not all, cancers of the colon arise from polyps.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "prevailing belief" when you want to describe an idea or opinion that is widely accepted within a specific context or group. Be sure to clarify which group holds the belief if it's not immediately obvious.

Common error

Avoid using "prevailing belief" without specifying the relevant group or context. What is considered a "prevailing belief" in one community may be entirely unknown or rejected in another.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "prevailing belief" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It introduces a concept widely accepted or held within a particular group or society. As demonstrated by Ludwig, the phrase describes a common opinion or idea.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

34%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "prevailing belief" is a common and grammatically sound way to introduce a widely accepted idea or opinion. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is used across various domains, including news, science, and encyclopedias. To use it effectively, remember to provide context about who holds this belief, avoiding the assumption that it is universally shared. Alternatives like ""dominant view"" or "common understanding" can offer subtle shifts in emphasis, depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. By recognizing its function and potential pitfalls, you can confidently incorporate "prevailing belief" into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

dominant view

Replaces "belief" with a more general term "view" and "prevailing" with "dominant", indicating widespread acceptance.

common understanding

Focuses on the shared comprehension of a concept rather than a specific belief.

accepted wisdom

Implies that the belief has been established over time and is widely regarded as true.

general consensus

Emphasizes agreement among a group of people rather than individual belief.

widespread opinion

Highlights that the belief is held by a large number of people.

established notion

Suggests that the belief is firmly rooted and has been accepted for some time.

conventional wisdom

Refers to beliefs that are widely accepted but may not necessarily be accurate.

popular perception

Highlights how something is commonly viewed or understood by the public.

reigning theory

Applies primarily in academic and scientific contexts, referring to a currently accepted explanation.

public sentiment

Focuses on the emotional attitude or opinion of the general public.

FAQs

How can I use "prevailing belief" in a sentence?

You can use "prevailing belief" to describe a widely held idea or opinion. For example: "The "dominant view" is that climate change requires immediate action."

What are some alternatives to "prevailing belief"?

Some alternatives include ""dominant view"", "common understanding", and "accepted wisdom", each with slightly different connotations.

Is "prevailing belief" the same as "popular opinion"?

While similar, "prevailing belief" often implies a more deeply held conviction or assumption, whereas "popular perception" can refer to more superficial or transient views.

When is it appropriate to use "prevailing belief" in academic writing?

In academic writing, use "prevailing belief" to introduce a commonly held theory or assumption within a field, often as a precursor to presenting a contrasting argument or new evidence. It helps to contextualize your research.