thought so long

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "thought so long" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to convey a sense of having considered something for an extended period, but it lacks clarity and proper grammatical structure. Example: "I thought so long about the decision that I ended up confusing myself."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

People thought so – long seen as one of the visionaries of technology, Mr Ozzie joined Microsoft five years ago when it bought his company.

Independent

The rest of Mr Yoo's column is predictably trite, although it's always fun to hear a man who thought so long and hard about how to make torture legal grind his teeth at the concept of "empathy".

The Economist

I thought, 'So long, here's a present for you.'".

Huffington Post

At least, my father thought so long enough to keep the song playing.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Too bad, Mr Raffarin thinks, so long as the law is passed.

The Economist

Not so long as I'm commissioner, and I don't think so long as Mayor de Blasio is mayor.

The New Yorker

Reuven Frank, who produced the Huntley-Brinkley news show, says, "There's nothing wrong with docudrama, I think, so long as newspeople don't do it".

The New Yorker

After you've done that a couple of years, you can do it on autopilot; you have a lot of free time to think, so long as you're willing to live modestly.

The New Yorker

But the government should not punish you if you choose to say what you really think, so long as you do not explicitly urge your friends to burn down my house.

The Economist

He's in a very commanding position, much more commanding than most people think, so long as he can sustain a third of the votes in either house.…If you look at voting in the House, it has been remarkably disciplined on the Republican side.

The New Yorker

"Adam thinks so long term, Rio is in his sights and fitting his plans perfectly.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For clarity and precision, replace "thought so long" with more standard alternatives like "considered for a long time" or "reflected at length".

Common error

Using "thought so long" can be vague and might not clearly convey the intended meaning. Ensure your writing is precise by choosing alternatives that accurately reflect the duration and intensity of the thought process.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "thought so long" functions as a descriptor indicating the duration of a cognitive process. However, Ludwig AI states that it is not correct in standard written English. Examples provided by Ludwig show its use in various contexts, but the message indicates that alternative phrasing might be more appropriate.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "thought so long" is used to indicate prolonged consideration, but it's not considered standard English. Ludwig AI indicates that the expression lacks clarity and proper grammatical structure. While it appears in various contexts like News & Media, Science, and Wiki sources, it's advisable to use clearer alternatives such as "considered for a long time" or "reflected at length", especially in formal writing. The frequency of its usage is rare, and its grammatical correctness is questionable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

believed for a long time

Replaces "thought" with "believed", emphasizing a sustained conviction.

considered at length

Substitutes "thought" with "considered", highlighting a thorough deliberation.

contemplated for ages

Replaces "thought" with "contemplated", suggesting a prolonged period of reflection.

reflected on for a while

Uses "reflected" instead of "thought", indicating thoughtful consideration over a duration.

deliberated extensively

Replaces "thought" with "deliberated", stressing careful and extended discussion.

mulled over for years

Employs "mulled over" instead of "thought", conveying a sense of pondering for an extended period.

pondered for a long period

Swaps "thought" for "pondered", emphasizing deep and sustained thought.

dwelt on for a considerable time

Uses "dwelt on" instead of "thought", suggesting prolonged focus and attention.

gave it much thought over time

Restructures the phrase to emphasize the act of thinking over an extended duration.

brooded about it for long

Replaces "thought" with "brooded", which suggests worrying thoughts for long time.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "thought so long"?

You can use alternatives like "considered at length", "reflected for a long time", or "contemplated for ages" depending on the context.

How can I use "thought so long" correctly in a sentence?

While "thought so long" is not standard English, you might rephrase it as "I thought for a long time about..." or "I considered it at length before..." for better clarity.

Is "thought so long" grammatically correct?

The phrase "thought so long" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to use more conventional phrases like "thought for a long time" or "considered at length".

What is the difference between "thought so long" and "thought for a long time"?

"Thought for a long time" is a grammatically correct and clearer way to express prolonged consideration compared to the less common and somewhat awkward phrase "thought so long".