thinking it right

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "thinking it right" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in contexts where someone is contemplating the correctness of a thought or decision, but it is not commonly recognized. Example: "After much deliberation, I found myself thinking it right to pursue my passion."

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

"It is for such a city, then, that these men nobly died in battle," Pericles declared, "thinking it right not to be deprived of her, just as each of their survivors should be willing to toil for her sake".

The New York Times

But you all were thinking it, right?

TechCrunch

For he was industrious and applied himself diligently to all the duties of his office; and he neither said, wrote, nor did anything as if it were a minor matter, but p23 sometimes he would consume whole days over the minutest point, not thinking it right that the emperor should do anything hurriedly.

University of Chicago

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

When people like this appropriate these cultures, their fans think that it is okay to do so as well, and they grow up thinking it is right to steal without understanding the value of what it is that they are taking from other people.

HuffPost

Cynics joke about Labour thinking it was right and it was the voters who were wrong.

The Guardian - Opinion

They were "actively thinking it out right now", he said.That may stem from the fact that Google makes its money nearly entirely from advertising, rather than apps and services.

The Economist

Or does thinking it's right make you crazy?

HuffPost

I was also thinking, "It's right for us to go over there".

Vice

At this point the United States shouldn't get involved either, thinking it can right all the wrongs.

HuffPost

So I remember watching it and thinking it looked right and that it seemed to keep everyone at a high.

Huffington Post

Instead, Mr. Beltrez took the painting to Christie's, thinking it was "the right thing" to do.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider stronger alternatives like "believing it's correct" or "deeming it appropriate" for better clarity and impact.

Common error

Avoid using "thinking it right" when you simply mean "believing it to be true". The phrase implies a moral or ethical justification, not just a factual assessment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "thinking it right" functions as a verbal phrase expressing a subjective judgment about the correctness or appropriateness of something. As Ludwig suggests, it conveys that the subject is considering something as morally or ethically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "thinking it right" expresses a considered opinion on the moral or ethical correctness of something. Ludwig indicates that while grammatically acceptable, the phrase isn't commonly recognized and can sound awkward. Alternative phrases like "believing it's correct" or "deeming it appropriate" may offer better clarity. It's crucial to use "thinking it right" only when referring to a moral or ethical judgment, avoiding its use for simple factual correctness. The phrase appears most frequently in news and media contexts, as shown by Ludwig's examples.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deeming it the right thing to do

Adds "the right thing to do" for emphasis, making the phrase more explicit.

believing it's correct

Replaces "thinking" with "believing" and uses the contraction "it's" for a slightly more informal tone.

believing it to be the correct course of action

Expands the phrase to specify "correct course of action", adding detail and formality.

deeming it appropriate

Substitutes "thinking" with "deeming" and "right" with "appropriate", conveying a sense of judgment and suitability.

considering it justified

Replaces "thinking" with "considering" and "right" with "justified", emphasizing the rationalization behind an action or decision.

regarding it as ethical

Uses "regarding it as" instead of "thinking it" and replaces "right" with "ethical", highlighting the moral aspect.

viewing it as acceptable

Replaces "thinking" with "viewing" and "right" with "acceptable", suggesting a perspective of permissibility.

judging it to be proper

Employs "judging it to be" instead of "thinking it" and "proper" instead of "right", conveying a sense of formality and correctness.

perceiving it as moral

Replaces "thinking" with "perceiving" and "right" with "moral", focusing on the inherent goodness or righteousness.

conceiving it as legitimate

Substitutes "thinking" with "conceiving" and "right" with "legitimate", emphasizing the lawfulness or validity.

FAQs

What does "thinking it right" mean?

The phrase "thinking it right" generally means considering something to be morally or ethically correct, or justified. It implies a judgment beyond mere factual accuracy.

Are there better alternatives to "thinking it right"?

Yes, depending on the context, you could use phrases like "believing it's correct", "deeming it appropriate", or "considering it justified" for improved clarity.

Is "thinking it right" grammatically incorrect?

While not strictly incorrect, "thinking it right" can sound somewhat awkward or archaic. Ludwig AI suggests that is grammatically acceptable but not so commonly recognized.

How can I use "thinking it right" in a sentence?

Example: "Pericles declared, 'It is for such a city, then, that these men nobly died in battle, thinking it right not to be deprived of her'." However, ensure the context warrants the implied moral or ethical judgment.