thought as long

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "thought as long" is not correct in English and does not convey a clear meaning.
It seems to be an incomplete expression and lacks context to determine its intended use. Example: "I thought as long as it took to find the right answer."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

It's O.K., I thought, as long as I'm in on the joke.

The New Yorker

"I thought, As long as I sew it on, I'm fine, I can't really lose.

The New Yorker

"We thought as long as you could pay" the minimum, "everything was cool," she said.

The New York Times

"I thought as long as I keep trying, I had to make one," Clijsters said.

The New York Times - Sports

"I thought, as long as it stays like that I'm O.K., and I can kind of grin and bear it.

The New York Times - Sports

Lehrer thought, as long as we're covering our books anyway, why couldn't the covers have handles that students could use to carry them?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

Well, I think it can survive as a news gathering operation, I think, as long as one could imagine.

Cornell University

And, I think as long as they are done responsibly and ethically, they all count.

Columbia University

And I think as long as you're careful with that, then it's fine.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

I think as long as you don't go stupidly over the top.

Independent

I just think as long as you think you can do it and you're physically healthy — " He changed tack.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure your sentences are grammatically complete. Instead of "thought as long", use phrases like "thought for a long time" or "considered at length" to convey your intended meaning clearly.

Common error

Avoid using "thought as long" as a standalone phrase. It often leaves the sentence incomplete and obscures your meaning. Always follow with a clause that specifies the outcome or duration of the thinking process.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "thought as long" typically functions as part of a clause where someone is expressing what they were thinking, often followed by a condition or expectation. However, it's considered an incomplete expression. As pointed out by Ludwig, it lacks context to determine its intended use.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Academia

23%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "thought as long" is identified by Ludwig AI as grammatically incorrect and lacking a clear meaning. While common in news and media sources, it typically forms part of a conditional statement implying a belief or assumption. Better alternatives include "thought for a long time" or "considered at length" for clearer and more grammatically correct expression. Ludwig advises against using "thought as long" without a completing clause, ensuring better clarity and preventing sentence fragmentation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

thought for a long time

Emphasizes the duration of thinking about something.

considered at length

Highlights thorough and prolonged consideration.

reflected extensively

Focuses on deep and prolonged reflection.

pondered deeply

Emphasizes a profound and thoughtful consideration.

deliberated extensively

Highlights careful and extended deliberation.

gave it much thought

Indicates that significant thought was devoted to something.

spent a lot of time thinking

Focuses on time spent in contemplation.

contemplated for hours

Specifies a duration of contemplation.

wrestled with the idea

Suggests a struggle in considering an idea.

chewed over the problem

Implies a thorough and repeated consideration of a problem.

FAQs

What's a more grammatically correct way to express "thought as long"?

Instead of "thought as long", you can use phrases like "thought for a long time", "considered at length", or "reflected extensively" to convey the duration or intensity of your thinking.

How can I use "thought" to indicate a prolonged period of consideration?

To indicate a prolonged period of consideration, use phrases such as "I have thought about this for a long time", which is much clearer and grammatically sound.

What are some alternatives to "thought as long" that emphasize deep reflection?

Alternatives that emphasize deep reflection include "pondered deeply", "deliberated extensively", and "wrestled with the idea", which highlight a more intense and thoughtful process.

Is "thought as long" considered grammatically correct in formal writing?

No, "thought as long" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in formal writing. It's better to use more precise and complete phrases like "thought for a long time" or "considered carefully" for clarity and professionalism.