thought existed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "thought existed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the concept of an idea or belief that is perceived to be real or valid. Example: "The philosopher argued that the thought existed long before it was articulated in written form."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

In a series of three experiments, Harris et al. (2006) sought to determine which entities (e.g., the tooth fairy, witches, flying pigs, germs, oxygen) children aged four to eight years thought existed and on what basis they made the claim for existence.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Everything that I thought existed didn't exist anymore.

The New York Times

Incredibly loving, warm, happiness you never thought existed.

The Guardian - Film

It has revealed more support for the American position than our diplomats thought existed.

The New Yorker

The stable relationships that their designers thought existed were not so stable after all.

The Guardian - Opinion

It lifted the Badgers into the national semifinals, a place Jon Bryant once thought existed only in his dreams.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

20 human-written examples

Two primary schools of thought exist for this.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

So that than which nothing greater can be thought exists in the understanding.

SEP

One could argue two main schools of thought exist within continental feminism on the question of sexual difference.

SEP

Many other schools of thought exist, however, which are sometimes subsumed under the broad (and vague) label of continental philosophy.

Wikipedia

Several schools of thought exist about the function of this posttranslational modification.

G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "thought existed", ensure the context clearly indicates whose thought or belief is being referenced to avoid ambiguity. For instance, specify who held the thought or belief if it's not immediately apparent from the surrounding text.

Common error

Avoid attributing a belief to a group without evidence that the entire group held that belief. Instead of saying "Scientists thought X existed", specify which scientists held that belief, or rephrase to indicate a general consensus.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "thought existed" functions as a verb phrase indicating a past belief or assumption about the reality or presence of something. It describes a state of mind where someone considered something to be real or present at some point in the past. Ludwig examples demonstrate its usage across various subjects.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

23%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "thought existed" is a grammatically sound and frequently used verb phrase that expresses a past belief or assumption about something's existence. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's deemed both correct and usable. Its prevalence in news and media, science, and encyclopedic contexts indicates its versatility across different writing styles. When using this phrase, ensure you clearly specify who held the belief to avoid ambiguity. By understanding these nuances, you can effectively incorporate "thought existed" into your writing with confidence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

believed to exist

Replaces "thought" with "believed", emphasizing the conviction in the existence.

assumed to exist

Substitutes "thought" with "assumed", implying a presumption of existence without concrete proof.

presumed to exist

Similar to "assumed to exist", but with a slightly more formal tone.

imagined to exist

Replaces "thought" with "imagined", suggesting a creation of the mind.

conceived to exist

Implies a mental formation or idea about the existence of something.

considered to exist

Focuses on the act of considering something as existing.

deemed to exist

A more formal way of saying something was judged or considered to exist.

believed in its existence

Emphasizes the belief in the existence of something, rather than just the thought.

viewed as real

Shifts the focus to the perceived reality of something.

accepted as fact

Highlights the acceptance of something's existence as a truth.

FAQs

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

Use "thought existed" to describe a belief or idea someone held about the reality or existence of something. For example, "He "thought existed" a secret passage in the old house".

What are some alternatives to "thought existed"?

You can use alternatives like "believed to exist", "assumed to exist", or "imagined to exist" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "think existed" instead of "thought existed"?

"Think existed" is grammatically incorrect in most contexts. "Thought existed" is the past tense and should be used to describe a past belief. "Think exists" would be used for a present belief.

What's the difference between "thought existed" and "believed existed"?

While both phrases convey a sense of a past belief, ""thought existed"" implies a consideration or idea, whereas "believed existed" suggests a stronger conviction or faith in the existence of something.