sequence of thoughts

USAGE SUMMARY

The expression "sequence of thoughts" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to describe a succession or progression of thoughts or ideas. For example, "I followed the sequence of thoughts as they came to me, attempting to work out a solution to the problem."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Despite its practical merits, the Savings Bank sacrificed an original sequence of thoughts and experiences for the later artificial order of a publication.

Princeton University

More than anything else, I realized, it had to be boring to be crazy, to think the same sequence of thoughts and come up with the same set of bizarre conclusions, to voice those conclusions using the same words, several times an hour, day in and day out.

The New Yorker

The metaphor therefore struggles to capture the dynamic, flowing nature of thought, a problem addressed by the psychologist and philosopher William James, who likened mental life to a stream, a sequence of thoughts and impressions that is never the same thing for long.

The Guardian - Books

This quantitative intuition™ framework – developed exclusively by the faculty directors of this program – teaches participants how to develop a parallel view of the issues that matter rather than just a logical sequence of thoughts to evaluate the situation as a whole.

Columbia University

To infer a proposition q from the propositions p and if p then q is (inter alia) to have a sequence of thoughts of the form p, if p then q, q.

SEP

Triggers can be any person, place or object that sparks a sequence of thoughts.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

My idea in Orientalism was to use humanistic critique to open up the fields of struggle, to introduce a longer sequence of thought and analysis to replace the short bursts of polemical, thought-stopping fury that so imprison us.

The Guardian - Books

Said, a pugnacious advocate for an independent state of Palestine became drawn into some visceral arguments in a way that helped politicise a book whose scholarly first intent had been to use, in Said's words, a "humanistic critique to introduce a longer sequence of thought and analysis to replace the short bursts of thought-stopping fury that so imprison us".

The Guardian - Books

In the sequence of thought-speech-action, affirmations play an integral role by breaking patterns of negative thoughts, negative speech, and, in turn, negative actions.

Huffington Post

These ideas may be either loosely related impressions approaching free association or more rationally structured sequences of thought and emotion.

Britannica

For example, Marsden proposed that "The sequencing of motor action and the sequencing of thought could be a uniform function carried out by the basal ganglia" [ 15], and a variety of computational models have been proposed to carry out the general sequencing functions of basal ganglia [ 16- 19].

BMC Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In academic or scientific writing, use "sequence of thoughts" to refer to the logical steps in reasoning or problem-solving processes.

Common error

Avoid using "sequence of thoughts" interchangeably with "stream of consciousness". "Sequence of thoughts" implies a logical or structured progression, while "stream of consciousness" refers to a free-flowing, often unfiltered, and less structured flow of thoughts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sequence of thoughts" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It describes a connected series or progression of ideas or mental events. The examples from Ludwig show it being used to describe reasoning, problem-solving, and understanding mental states.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

40%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

7%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "sequence of thoughts" is a grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe a connected series of mental processes. As highlighted by Ludwig, it effectively conveys the order in which ideas occur, making it suitable for describing reasoning, problem-solving, and character perspectives. While its frequency is uncommon, the phrase is versatile, appearing in neutral registers across news, scientific, and academic contexts. Related phrases such as "train of thought" or "succession of thoughts" offer similar meanings, but it's important to distinguish it from "stream of consciousness", which implies a more free-flowing and less structured mental flow. Utilizing the phrase in writing benefits from considering its structured implication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pattern of thoughts

Emphasizes the recurring or predictable arrangement of thoughts.

succession of thoughts

Highlights the consecutive nature of thoughts, one after another.

train of thought

Focuses on the connected and progressive flow of ideas.

stream of consciousness

Emphasizes a continuous flow of thoughts and sensations.

chain of thoughts

Suggests a linked series of thoughts, each connected to the next.

string of thoughts

Implies a loosely connected series of thoughts.

flow of ideas

Highlights the dynamic and interconnected nature of thoughts.

mental process

Refers to the overall activity of thinking and cognitive functions.

cognitive progression

Emphasizes the linear advancement of mental activity.

intellectual journey

Describes thinking as an exploratory and evolving process.

FAQs

How can I use "sequence of thoughts" in a sentence?

You can use "sequence of thoughts" to describe the progression of ideas, such as, "The therapist helped him understand the "sequence of thoughts" that led to his anxiety."

What is a good alternative to "sequence of thoughts"?

Alternatives include "train of thought", "succession of thoughts", or "flow of ideas", depending on the specific context you want to convey.

Is "sequence of thoughts" the same as "stream of consciousness"?

No, while both describe the flow of mental activity, "sequence of thoughts" suggests a more structured progression, whereas "stream of consciousness" refers to a free-flowing, less organized flow.

When is it appropriate to use "sequence of thoughts" in writing?

Use "sequence of thoughts" when you want to emphasize the ordered or logical progression of ideas, such as in describing a character's reasoning process or the steps in a problem-solving activity.