they thought

USAGE SUMMARY

"they thought" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is typically used to indicate the thoughts or beliefs of a group of people. Example: They thought the movie was going to be boring, but it turned out to be surprisingly entertaining.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

They thought: Perfect.

The New Yorker

They thought it useful.

The New Yorker

"Noma?" they thought.

Independent

"They thought wrong.

The New York Times

They thought: two people.

The New Yorker

They thought they'd misheard.

The New York Times - Arts

Unleavened bread, they thought.

The New Yorker

"They thought he was pretending.

The New York Times

"They thought, No, everything continues".

The New Yorker

They thought ideas were dangerous".

Independent

They thought I was caterwauling.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they thought" to clearly attribute a thought or belief to a group, avoiding ambiguity.

Common error

Ensure you accurately represent who the "they" refers to; avoid using "they thought" when referring to assumptions or generalizations that cannot be directly attributed to a specific group.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "they thought" is to attribute a thought, belief, or opinion to a group of people. It indicates what the subject (they) considered to be true or likely, as seen in Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Science

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "they thought" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase primarily found in news and media contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, it effectively communicates the beliefs or considerations of a group. While perfectly acceptable in general writing, more precise or formal alternatives might be preferable for academic or scientific contexts. Understanding the subtle differences between "they thought" and related phrases like "they believed" or "they assumed" can help refine your writing and convey nuanced meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they believed

Direct synonym replacing "thought" with "believed" for a similar meaning.

they considered

Replaces "thought" with "considered", suggesting a more deliberate evaluation.

they assumed

Indicates a belief taken for granted without proof.

they figured

More informal way of saying they came to the conclusion.

they presumed

Similar to "assumed" but often carries a sense of probability or likelihood.

they understood

Focuses on comprehension or grasping of a situation or concept.

it was their understanding

More formal way of indicating their comprehension.

in their view

Emphasizes that it's their perspective or opinion.

as far as they were concerned

Highlights their personal stake or interest in the matter.

their perception was

Highlights how they perceived the situation.

FAQs

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

Use "they thought" to express what a group of people believed or considered. For example, "they thought it was a good idea".

What is a formal alternative to "they thought"?

In formal contexts, consider using "it was their understanding" or "they believed".

Is "they thought" appropriate for academic writing?

While grammatically correct, "they thought" is more common in general writing. Academic writing may benefit from more precise alternatives like "they hypothesized" or "they concluded".

What's the difference between "they thought" and "they assumed"?

"They thought" suggests a general consideration, while "they assumed" implies a belief taken for granted without concrete evidence.