previously thought

USAGE SUMMARY

"previously thought" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is typically used to refer to a belief or idea that was held in the past, but has since been changed or updated. Example: "According to the new research, the species of bird was previously thought to be extinct, but has actually been thriving in a remote area of the rainforest."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That's higher than previously thought.

The New York Times

That risk is higher than previously thought.

The New York Times

Consumer spending was weaker than previously thought.

The New York Times

Manufacturing is much larger than previously thought.

The Economist

Conclusion: Uterine vascular malformations are more common than previously thought.

European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology

Some cancers which were previously thought untreatable are now curable.

Columbia University

And the effects would last much longer than previously thought.

Yale University

Now, researchers find, concussion is more complex than previously thought.

Stanford University

This is much more complex than what was previously thought".

University of California, Berkeley

In fact, more diverse and abundant than previously thought.

The New York Times

It's apparently more common than previously thought, Bernanke says.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "previously thought" to highlight a contrast between past assumptions and current knowledge, adding emphasis to new discoveries or revised understandings.

Common error

Avoid using "previously thought" when discussing purely speculative scenarios or unconfirmed ideas; reserve it for situations where there was a concrete, established belief that has since been challenged or revised.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "previously thought" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating that the verb it modifies (usually a form of "to be") expresses something that was believed or understood at an earlier time. Ludwig AI confirms it’s a correct and commonly used phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "previously thought" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to contrast past beliefs with current understanding. Ludwig AI validates its proper usage. It frequently appears in news, academic, and scientific contexts to highlight revisions in knowledge. When using this phrase, ensure it refers to concrete beliefs rather than speculation. Alternatives include "formerly believed" or "once assumed". Its prevalence across authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian underscores its reliability and widespread acceptance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

formerly believed

Replaces "thought" with "believed" and "previously" with "formerly" to indicate a past belief.

once assumed

Substitutes "thought" with "assumed" and "previously" with "once" emphasizing an earlier assumption.

earlier considered

Uses "considered" instead of "thought" and "earlier" in place of "previously" focusing on a past consideration.

hitherto understood

Employs "understood" in lieu of "thought" and "hitherto" for "previously" highlighting a past understanding.

initially perceived

Replaces "thought" with "perceived" and "previously" with "initially" stressing an original perception.

originally conceived

Substitutes "thought" with "conceived" and "previously" with "originally" emphasizing an initial concept.

what was once imagined

Changes the structure to emphasize imagination rather than thought and uses "what was once" for "previously".

as was once theorized

Replaces "thought" with "theorized" and uses a passive construction with "as was once" for "previously".

in the past it was believed

Restructures the sentence to put emphasis on the past belief, replacing "previously thought" with "in the past it was believed".

people used to think

Simplifies the phrasing to "people used to think" instead of "previously thought" for a more informal tone.

FAQs

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

You can use "previously thought" to indicate a change in understanding, as in, "The migration patterns of these birds were "previously thought" to be limited to the coast, but recent studies show they also venture inland."

What are some alternatives to "previously thought"?

Alternatives include phrases like "formerly believed", "once assumed", or "earlier considered", which all convey a shift in understanding.

Is it correct to say "previous thought" instead of "previously thought"?

No, "previous thought" isn't grammatically correct in this context. "Previously" is an adverb that modifies the verb "thought", indicating when the thinking occurred.

What's the difference between "previously thought" and "recently discovered"?

"Previously thought" indicates a change in understanding over time, whereas "recently discovered" simply highlights the newness of a finding without necessarily implying a prior misconception.