trails of thought

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "trails of thought" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the progression or flow of ideas in someone's mind, often in a reflective or analytical context. Example: "As I sat in silence, I followed the trails of thought that led me to new insights about my life."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

These people have very different trails of thought and have the masterful ability to turn the unexpected into a mass of astonishing genius and beauty.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

You want to shove a camera in my face, you just f***** up my whole trail of thought".

Independent

And it's a good one — but Hitchens kept turning away from the darker trail of thought and feeling the original shock might have led him down.

The New Yorker

"The fact they scored just before half-time and just afterwards, there's a trail of thought that that's it, the tie's over," he said.

BBC

A responsible trail of thought would assume that there was drinking present at said college party.

Huffington Post

But in classic Trump fashion, he quickly derailed his own trail of thought to call an ABC News reporter named Tom Llamas "a sleaze"—and to voice some complaints about the press in general.

Vice

"[If] the paperwork's got NHS as well on there, they'll be, 'is it going on their records?' and 'social services', and they'll go down that line of trail of thought" (Year 3 teacher).

BMC Psychiatry

However, teachers reported that certain parents are very wary of 'officialdom': "[If] the paperwork's got NHS as well on there, they'll be, 'is it going on their records?' and 'social services', and they'll go down that line of trail of thought" (Year 3 teacher).

BMC Psychiatry

This might be enough to cause her to lose her trail of thought, out of surprise.

WikiHow

Likewise, writing forces the brain to review its own landscape, plot a course through that mental terrain, and transcribe the resulting trail of thoughts by guiding the hands.

The New Yorker

Using a more open-ended approach will help to get deeper insights of the student's misconceptions and allow the researcher to follow the trail of thoughts of the learner.

International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "trails of thought" to evoke a sense of exploration or discovery in the progression of ideas, suggesting a journey through a complex subject.

Common error

Avoid using "trails of thought" in contexts where a more direct or literal description of thinking would be clearer. Overuse can make your writing sound convoluted or pretentious.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "trails of thought" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes a sequence or progression of ideas, often with an emphasis on exploration or discovery. Ludwig AI validates this usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Wiki

33%

Science

32%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "trails of thought" offers a metaphorical way to describe the progression of ideas, suggesting a journey or exploration. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically sound and versatile, appearing in news, wiki pages, and scientific contexts. While not exceedingly common, it's a useful tool for evoking a sense of discovery in writing. Remember to use it judiciously, avoiding overuse and considering alternatives like "train of thought" or "stream of consciousness" to maintain clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

train of thought

Emphasizes a linear progression of connected ideas, differing slightly in imagery from a meandering trail.

stream of consciousness

Focuses on a continuous flow of thoughts, often unfiltered and less structured than a trail.

line of reasoning

Highlights the logical sequence of ideas in an argument or explanation, adding emphasis on logic.

path of contemplation

Suggests a more deliberate and reflective sequence of thoughts than a simple trail.

course of reflection

Implies a planned or intentional direction in one's thoughts, compared to the more neutral “trails”.

mental journey

Uses the metaphor of travel to describe the progression of thoughts, increasing the imaginative component.

intellectual pursuit

Shifts the focus to the active seeking of knowledge or understanding through thought, adding focus on knowledge.

cognitive process

Emphasizes the mechanics and functions of thinking, rather than the content or direction of thoughts.

thought process

More generic term for how someone thinks, rather than emphasizing a journey or trail.

chain of ideas

Focuses on the connections between individual ideas, emphasizing the interconnectedness of thoughts.

FAQs

How can I use "trails of thought" in a sentence?

You can use "trails of thought" to describe the progression of someone's ideas, often in a reflective or analytical context. For example: "As I sat in silence, I followed the "trails of thought" that led me to new insights about my life."

What phrases are similar to "trails of thought"?

Similar phrases include "train of thought", "stream of consciousness", or "line of reasoning". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "trails of thought" formal or informal?

The phrase "trails of thought" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, but it's more common in reflective or analytical writing. More direct language may be preferable in very formal or technical contexts.

What's the difference between "trails of thought" and "train of thought"?

"Trails of thought" suggests a less structured, more exploratory sequence of ideas, while "train of thought" implies a more linear and connected progression.