they were thought

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'they were thought' is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to indicate what other people believed or expected of a situation. For example: "They were thought to be the best dressed couple at the wedding."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They were thought provoking, confrontational and very cool indeed.

Independent

They were thought to have died in the attempt.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

They were thought to be headed to nearby Hart Island.

The New York Times

(They were thought to be useful for picking up garbage).

The New York Times

They were thought to have then entered Syria to join Isis.

Independent

They were thought of as better-produced and of higher quality.

The New York Times

They were thought to accompany the deaths of massive stars in giant supernova explosions.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Though they were thought to have done well, the vote was rigged.

The New York Times

They were thought to have flown over Mexico, making stops to refuel.

The New York Times

They were thought to be a must-do for any medal hopeful.

The Economist

The old society accepted these training priests, although they were thought to be completely useless.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer active voice constructions to convey a similar meaning when known.

Common error

Avoid using "they were thought" excessively, especially when an active construction would be clearer and more direct. Over-reliance on passive voice can make writing sound weak and indirect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were thought" functions as a passive construction, indicating that a particular belief or opinion was held by an unspecified group of people. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this is a grammatically correct structure used to express a general perception or assumption.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

26%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "they were thought" is a grammatically correct passive construction used to indicate a past belief or assumption, as validated by Ludwig AI. It appears frequently in news, scientific, and encyclopedic contexts. While grammatically sound and widely applicable, you should consider using the active voice for more direct and impactful writing. Remember to clearly indicate who held the belief to avoid ambiguity, and consider alternatives like ""they were believed"" or ""it was assumed that they were"" based on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were believed

Replaces "thought" with "believed", emphasizing conviction or acceptance as true.

they were considered

Shifts the focus to evaluation or judgment by others.

it was assumed that they were

Changes the sentence structure to an active voice with "assumed", indicating a presumption.

they were presumed

Condenses the idea into a single word, suggesting a legal or formal assumption.

people thought they were

Explicitly mentions people as the source of the thought or belief.

the common belief was that they were

Highlights the widespread nature of the belief.

they were understood to be

Focuses on a general understanding or interpretation.

it had been thought that they were

Adds a sense of past time and potential change in belief.

they had been regarded as

Emphasizes a specific view or opinion held about them.

as far as anyone knew, they were

Indicates a belief based on the available information.

FAQs

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

Use "they were thought" to express a past belief or assumption about a group or entity, for example, "They were thought to be extinct until recently".

What are some alternatives to "they were thought"?

Alternatives include "they were believed", "they were considered", or "it was assumed that they were", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "they were thought"?

While "they were thought" is grammatically correct, using the active voice (e.g., "People thought they were...") can often make your writing more direct and engaging.

What's the difference between "they were thought" and "they were known"?

"They were thought" implies a belief or assumption, while "they were known" suggests established knowledge or fact. The former is less certain than the latter.