string of thoughts

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "string of thoughts" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an organized, but seemingly random, series of thoughts. For example, you might say "I had a string of thoughts about what I would do with my next vacation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

In the two strides where things went wrong, I remember having a string of thoughts: How could this be happening?

The New York Times

Below is a string of thoughts (reproduced with permission) from Raymond T. Pierrehumbert, a climatologst at the University of Chicago and contributor to Realcliamte.org, giving his assessment of the Nature paper and my coverage.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The Auster and Coetzee correspondence is interesting and sometimes amusing, but not an endless string of thought-provoking discussions.

The Guardian - Books

You don't want to be swamped in dozens of strings of thoughts (which is why you're doing this in the first place).

WikiHow

Most puns strike one as atrocious, perhaps because they represent the most primitive form of humour; two disparate strings of thought tied together by an acoustic knot.

Encyclopedia Britannica

This style delineates an important facet of Lispector's storytelling method: While working on the book she claimed to simply write down her ideas as they occurred, creating strings of thought and action that reflected a more natural way of speaking, without a necessary goal.

Vice

I wanted more physical, more sensual description, I suppose, as opposed to the string of clotting thoughts.

The New Yorker

Sometimes what we take for a string of negative thoughts and bad luck is a period of serious depression that needs clinical attention, and now.

WikiHow

Publishing a string of unrelated thoughts might be fine once in a while, but stay away from making every post as unfocused as a daily diary entry.

WikiHow

Even allowing that he was helped by Edmund's kamikaze tennis, as the British player tried to out-hit him off the ground in a string of ill-thought-out exchanges, Djokovic played a lot of good tennis, mixing power and subtlety to bamboozle his young opponent.

The Guardian - Sport

He was also functionally illiterate and so far as we can tell from Huang, incapable of stringing together a complex chain of thought.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "string of thoughts" to describe a series of connected, but not necessarily logically structured, ideas or mental images. It's suitable for conveying a sense of introspection or free association.

Common error

Avoid using "string of thoughts" when describing a carefully constructed argument or a logical progression of ideas. Opt for terms like "line of reasoning" or "logical sequence" in such cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "string of thoughts" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or the subject of a clause. As Ludwig AI confirms, it describes a connected series of ideas or mental images.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Wiki

30%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "string of thoughts" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that refers to a sequence of connected ideas or mental images. As noted by Ludwig AI, it’s suitable for describing introspection or free association, frequently appearing in news, media, and encyclopedic contexts. While alternatives like "sequence of thoughts" or "chain of thoughts" exist, "string of thoughts" carries a unique nuance implying a loosely connected series. It's best to avoid using it in formal contexts where precise and structured reasoning is required.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

trail of thoughts

Similar imagery, implying a sequence of thoughts left behind.

sequence of thoughts

More formal, emphasizes the ordered arrangement of thoughts.

thread of thoughts

Implies a more delicate and interconnected flow of thoughts.

chain of thoughts

Highlights the interconnectedness and dependence between thoughts.

stream of consciousness

Related to the continuous flow of thoughts and feelings.

series of reflections

More reflective and deliberate than a "string of thoughts".

train of thought

Focuses on the direction and progression of thinking.

flow of ideas

Focuses more on ideas as distinct entities, rather than thoughts.

succession of ideas

Like flow of ideas, emphasizes the individual ideas in the sequence.

a line of reasoning

Suggests a logical and structured progression of thoughts.

FAQs

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

You might say, "During my meditation, I experienced a "string of thoughts" about my childhood" or "The novel presented a "string of thoughts" from the protagonist's perspective".

What is a good synonym for "string of thoughts"?

Alternatives include "sequence of thoughts", "trail of thoughts", or "chain of thoughts", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

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

"Stream of consciousness" is a broader term referring to the continuous flow of thoughts, feelings, and sensations, while "string of thoughts" implies a more discrete, almost itemized, sequence. They are related but not perfectly interchangeable.

Can "string of thoughts" be used in formal writing?

While acceptable, "string of thoughts" leans towards informal or creative writing. In formal contexts, consider more precise terms like "line of reasoning" or "logical progression" to maintain a more objective tone.