stream of thoughts

USAGE SUMMARY

'stream of thoughts' is correct and can be used in written English.
It is a phrase used to refer to someone's thought process as it passes through their mind. For example: "The philosopher tried to make sense of the complex stream of thoughts swirling in her head."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

40 human-written examples

In stopping to consider a seemingly empty moment, we fill it with a stream of thoughts.

The New Yorker

Everyone has an inner stream of thoughts and feelings that includes criticism, doubt, and fear.

Harvard Business Review

The show isn't a themeless stream of thoughts that started with whatever you went through that day.

The New York Times - Arts

All healthy human beings have an inner stream of thoughts and feelings that include criticism, doubt, and fear.

Harvard Business Review

I had broken through the threshold of night, beyond which sleep would not come only a rapid stream of thoughts and disconnected suppositions".

The Economist

The written descriptions of participants' stream of thoughts while watching their ex-partner's photos were first filtered with the negative emotion category in the LIWC dictionary.

Nature

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

20 human-written examples

I use Instagram as a constant stream of thought that doesn't end, hopping all around from location to location, thought to thought".

The New Yorker

Another stream of thought has stressed difference of intensity rather than kind of interaction.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Footnotes really presage hyperlinks, the ultimate interrupter of a stream of thought.

The New York Times - Books

Marxism, however, represents only one stream of thought concerning alienation in modern society.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Good festivals involve audiences sharing a stream of thought or experiencing a sense of place.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "stream of thoughts" to effectively convey the continuous and often unstructured nature of consciousness or internal thinking. It's particularly useful when describing a character's perspective in literature or analyzing cognitive processes in psychology.

Common error

Don't confuse the phrase "stream of thoughts" as a technique like 'stream of consciousness writing.' The former describes the natural flow of thinking, while the latter refers to a specific literary style.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "stream of thoughts" functions as a noun phrase, describing the continuous flow of cognitive activity. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness for general use. It often acts as the subject or object of a sentence, denoting a process or state of mind.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "stream of thoughts" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe the continuous flow of consciousness, as validated by Ludwig AI. Predominantly used in news, science, and academic contexts, it effectively conveys the dynamic nature of internal thinking. While synonyms like "flow of consciousness" exist, "stream of thoughts" strikes a balance between formality and accessibility. When using this phrase, ensure it accurately reflects the ongoing, sometimes unstructured, nature of mental activity, avoiding confusion with specific writing techniques like stream-of-consciousness narration. The frequency across authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian indicates its wide acceptance and applicability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

flow of consciousness

Highlights the continuous and unbroken nature of subjective experience.

train of thought

Focuses more on a sequential, logical progression of ideas rather than a general flow.

course of thinking

Focuses on the overall direction or trajectory of one's thoughts.

inner monologue

Refers to the internal voice or narrative that accompanies thought.

succession of ideas

Emphasizes the sequential arrangement of thoughts.

internal discourse

Similar to inner monologue, but suggests a more structured or reasoned form of internal thought.

mental chatter

Implies a more repetitive or distracting quality to the flow of thoughts.

series of reflections

Highlights a more contemplative and considered progression of thoughts.

chain of reasoning

Stresses the logical connections between successive thoughts.

parade of notions

Suggests a vibrant, perhaps chaotic, and varied series of thoughts.

FAQs

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

You can use "stream of thoughts" to describe someone's thought process. For example: "Her "stream of thoughts" was interrupted by the phone ringing."

What's a good synonym for "stream of thoughts"?

A good synonym for "stream of thoughts" is "flow of consciousness", which also describes the continuous nature of thinking.

Is "stream of thoughts" a formal phrase?

"Stream of thoughts" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in academic writing, you might prefer "flow of consciousness".

What does "stream of thoughts" imply?

"Stream of thoughts" implies a continuous, flowing, and sometimes chaotic sequence of ideas, feelings, and sensations passing through the mind.