thought mad

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "thought mad" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express a state of madness or irrational thinking, but it lacks clarity and proper grammatical structure. Example: "In his moment of despair, he felt as if his thoughts were mad and chaotic."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

I always thought (Mad Men star) Jon Hamm might be good.

Independent

The following are some recent best-picture nominees that notoriously failed to acknowledge a source: 'THE SIXTH SENSE' -- Based on "Hamlet" of William Shakespeare: a son, troubled by ghostly visitations, brings his mother to tears and is thought mad.

The New York Times

If we really thought Mad Men would end with the question of whether he was killed in a restaurant like Tony Soprano, it wouldn't have been Mad Men; it would have been a Sopranos rip-off.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

It's the real deal.How Ms Maitland gets to that point is a long story; a hunt for greater solitude and further remoteness along the length of Britain, with a detour to the Sinai desert, which she describes with a disarming sense of being thought mad.

The Economist

And when you're seen dancing you'll be thought mad by those who cannot hear the music.

Huffington Post

(In a rare moment of comedic relief, the FBI agent thought "mad cooked" meant "crazy" rather than high).

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

How do you think Mad Men will end?

The Guardian - TV & Radio

(Think "Mad Men" in the air and tweaked for a mass audience).

The New York Times

Forget the Garden of Eden; think Mad Max.Constant warfare was necessary to keep population density down to one person per square mile.

The Economist

Blasphemy alert: I'm beginning to think Mad Men is better than The Wire.

The Guardian

"Think Mad Max meets Watts Towers meets Willy Wonka," said Paul Ha, director of the Contemporary Art Museum of St . Louis

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone's mental state, consider using stronger, more direct adjectives like "insane", "crazy", or "irrational" instead of the awkward phrasing "thought mad".

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "thought mad" as it incorrectly combines a past tense verb with an adjective. Instead, rephrase it to express the intended meaning more clearly, such as "thought to be mad" or "believed to be crazy".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "thought mad" functions as a passive construction where the verb "thought" modifies the adjective "mad". However, it is considered grammatically questionable by Ludwig. The intended function is to express that someone was believed or considered to be insane.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

50%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "thought mad" is grammatically questionable and considered incorrect by Ludwig. It functions to express a belief or perception that someone was insane or irrational. Though it appears in some news articles, its usage is rare and often replaced by more grammatically correct and clearer alternatives like "thought to be mad" or "considered insane". Its register is generally neutral to informal. Therefore, it's best to use alternative phrases for improved clarity and grammatical correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

considered insane

Focuses on the formal evaluation of someone's mental state.

believed crazy

Uses a more colloquial term for madness, implying a less formal judgment.

deemed irrational

Highlights the lack of logical reasoning attributed to the person.

regarded as deranged

Emphasizes a severe state of mental disturbance.

presumed lunatic

Uses an outdated term for someone considered mentally ill, carrying a strong negative connotation.

assumed unhinged

Suggests a loss of emotional control and stability.

imagined delirious

Implies a temporary state of confusion and disorientation.

conceived as unstable

Focuses on the perceived lack of mental and emotional stability.

suspected of psychosis

Specifies a potential underlying mental health condition.

inferred unbalanced

Highlights the perceived lack of equilibrium in mental or emotional state.

FAQs

What is a more grammatically correct way to express "thought mad"?

Instead of "thought mad", use phrases like "thought to be mad", "believed to be crazy", or "considered insane" for better grammatical correctness and clarity.

How can I use "considered insane" instead of "thought mad" in a sentence?

You can replace "thought mad" with alternatives like "considered insane" in sentences such as: "He was "considered insane" by his peers because of his unconventional ideas."

What is the difference between "thought mad" and "thought crazy"?

"Thought crazy" is slightly more common and understandable than "thought mad", but both are grammatically awkward. Using phrases like "believed to be crazy" provides clarity.

When is it appropriate to use phrases related to "thought mad"?

It is appropriate to use phrases like "believed crazy" or "considered insane" when describing someone's perception or judgment of another person's mental state, especially when implying disagreement or skepticism.