thought not to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "thought not to" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is mainly used to indicate a negative opinion about something. For example you can say "The police believed him to be responsible, but his friends thought not to be the case."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He was lucky, he thought, not to be that dog.

The New Yorker

He is thought not to have left Iran since 1989.

The Economist

"It was thought not to be a good idea.

The New York Times

His colleague is thought not to be seriously injured.

The Guardian

All public key algorithms are thought not to be solvable in polynomial time.

Stanford University

The old, sapping heaviness of Wembley's turf is thought not to be a problem this weekend.

The New York Times - Sports

England's total population at the time is thought not to have exceeded 3m people.

The Economist

A being that necessarily exists cannot coherently be thought not to exist.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Antibody responses are generally thought not to play a role in tumor protection.

Nature

Swine are thought not to be susceptible to mad cow disease.

The New York Times

Moreover, sugar-alcohol catalysts are thought not to cause polymer coloration because TDDFT calculation gave no significant absorbance in visible region for them.

Polymer

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "thought not to" to express a contrast between a common belief and an alternative perspective. For clarity, follow it with a specific reason or evidence that supports the differing viewpoint.

Common error

Avoid using "thought not to" when expressing a positive belief or expectation. This phrase inherently carries a negative connotation, so using it in an affirmative context can create confusion. Instead, use "thought to" or "believed to" for positive statements.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "thought not to" functions as a modifier within a sentence, typically expressing a contrary opinion or a lack of expectation regarding a particular subject. Ludwig AI examples show it effectively conveys a deviation from a generally held belief or initial assessment.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

37%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "thought not to" is a versatile phrase that expresses dissent or a negative expectation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and prevalent in various contexts, particularly in news, scientific, and academic writing. While alternatives like "believed not to" or "deemed not to" exist, "thought not to" provides a clear and direct way to convey a contrasting perspective. When using the phrase, ensure it accurately reflects a negative belief and is not mistakenly used in an affirmative context. Remember to provide context or reasoning to strengthen the impact of your statement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

believed not to

Replaces "thought" with "believed", maintaining a similar connotation of opinion or assessment.

not believed to

Similar to "believed not to", but with a slightly different word order.

considered not to

Substitutes "thought" with "considered", emphasizing a more formal evaluation.

deemed not to

Uses "deemed" instead of "thought", suggesting a judgment or official assessment.

not considered to

Mirrors "considered not to" with a reordered structure, still implying a formal evaluation.

wasn't thought to

Expresses the idea in a passive voice, emphasizing the lack of general consensus.

not deemed to

Reflects "deemed not to" by restructuring the sentence, maintaining the sense of official judgment.

presumed not to

Replaces "thought" with "presumed", suggesting an assumption made without concrete evidence.

assumed not to

Similar to "presumed not to", implying a belief based on less than definitive proof.

was not expected to

Indicates a lack of anticipation or expectation, diverging slightly from the opinion-based nature of "thought".

FAQs

How can I use "thought not to" in a sentence?

Use "thought not to" to express a contrasting opinion or a lack of expectation. For example: "The initial plan was promising, but the team "thought not to" proceed due to budget constraints."

What are some alternatives to "thought not to"?

Depending on the context, alternatives include "believed not to", "considered not to", or "deemed not to". Each carries a slightly different nuance regarding the basis and formality of the opinion.

Is it correct to say "was thought to not" instead of "thought not to"?

While "was thought to not" isn't grammatically incorrect, ""thought not to"" is more concise and commonly used. The latter is generally preferred for its directness.

How does the meaning of "thought not to" differ from "thought to"?

"Thought not to" implies a disbelief or a negative expectation, while "thought to" suggests a belief or positive expectation. The presence of "not" reverses the sentiment entirely.