prevailing beliefs

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "prevailing beliefs" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the dominant or widely accepted ideas or opinions within a particular context or society. Example: "The prevailing beliefs about climate change have shifted significantly over the past decade, leading to increased public awareness and action."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

Every article, every headline, must pass through the filter of two prevailing beliefs.

The New York Times

This contradicts prevailing beliefs and could impact future breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.

University of California, Berkeley

This attitude that studies that go against prevailing beliefs should be ignored on the basis that, well, they go against prevailing beliefs, has been the norm for the anti-salt campaign for decades.

The New York Times

Consider what happened at a village in Mali, where prevailing beliefs attributed widespread childhood malnutrition to the village sorcerer.

Harvard Business Review

Shortly thereafter, Berengar, who always exhibited great independence of thought, began to teach ideas contrary to prevailing beliefs.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In contrast to prevailing beliefs, the jurors I interviewed surprised me by being rather tough on plaintiffs who bring cases against businesses and corporations.

Cornell University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

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

The New York Times - Sports

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

Her nuclear industry would not have survived the subversive 70s without the prevailing belief, overriding all political divisions, that France should, at all costs, preserve her political and ideological independence.

The Guardian - Opinion

The guest performers at the festival were almost entirely male, reflecting the prevailing belief that while the Maryinsky is surfeited with talented young ballerinas, its men are less commanding.

The New York Times - Arts

The rest was deemed not functional, or "junk". But from his days in graduate school, through his postdoctoral fellowship, and now as a Harvard Stem Cell scientist, John Rinn has been digging through the genome, challenging that prevailing belief.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing societal trends or changes in understanding, use "prevailing beliefs" to accurately represent the generally accepted views at a specific time. This helps to contextualize the discussion and highlight shifts in perspective.

Common error

Avoid using "prevailing beliefs" to describe your own opinions or the opinions of a small group. Ensure that the beliefs you are referring to are genuinely widespread and recognized by a significant portion of the population or field you are discussing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "prevailing beliefs" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It identifies the dominant or commonly accepted ideas within a specific context. Ludwig AI confirms this through its examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

29%

Academia

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

13%

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "prevailing beliefs" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to refer to the dominant or widely accepted ideas within a specific context or society. As Ludwig AI indicates, its use spans across various domains, including news, science, and academia. While alternatives such as "accepted wisdom" or "common convictions" exist, "prevailing beliefs" remains a versatile and reliable choice for describing established viewpoints. Understanding its function and purpose, as well as avoiding common errors, can enhance clarity and precision in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

widely held views

Simply emphasizes the extensive adoption of these perspectives.

conventional wisdom

Implies that the beliefs are well-established and widely held.

accepted wisdom

Highlights the widespread acceptance and perceived truth of the beliefs.

mainstream thought

Positions the beliefs as being within the most common and accepted ideas.

common convictions

Emphasizes the deeply held nature of these beliefs.

general consensus

Focuses on the agreement among a group of people.

dominant ideologies

Focuses more on the ideological nature of the beliefs.

current thinking

Refers to the present state of understanding and beliefs.

established norms

Shifts the focus to beliefs that dictate social behavior and expectations.

popular opinions

Highlights the widespread public acceptance of these views.

FAQs

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

You can use "prevailing beliefs" to describe widely accepted ideas in a particular context. For example, "The "prevailing beliefs" about health have shifted over time as new scientific evidence emerges."

What's the difference between ""prevailing beliefs"" and "popular opinions"?

"Prevailing beliefs" often refer to more deeply ingrained or established ideas, while "popular opinions" might be more transient and subject to change.

What can I say instead of ""prevailing beliefs""?

You can use alternatives like "accepted wisdom", "common convictions", or "dominant ideologies" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Are ""prevailing beliefs"" always correct?

No, ""prevailing beliefs"" simply represent what is widely accepted at a given time, not necessarily what is factually accurate. Scientific advancements and social progress often challenge and change "prevailing beliefs".