was thought of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was thought of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing how something was perceived or considered by someone in the past. Example: "The idea for the project was thought of during a brainstorming session last year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The fun idea which may just go viral was thought of by two brothers Grachik and Tatul Adzhamyan.

TechCrunch

He was thought of as Superman by his children.

The New York Times

One was thought of as the Night Mayor.

The New York Times

Slavery alone was thought of, alone talked of.

The New Yorker

Before Jero, enka was thought of as commercially obsolete.

The Guardian - Music

The house was thought of "from the inside out," to accommodate the family's busy social life.

The New York Times

The paper was thought of as water bonded to cellulose, providing another partition method.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In 1961, Mississippi was thought of as the most intransigent of the Southern states.

The New Yorker

Peace was thought of as the rule of an authority within a specific region.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Until recently, Linux was thought of as too difficult for the average user.

The Guardian - Tech

In 1996 she was thought of as an eventual presidential candidate in her own right.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was thought of" to indicate a past perception, belief, or consideration of something. Ensure the context clearly specifies who held the thought or belief. For example, "In the past, this solution was thought of as impractical."

Common error

Avoid using "was thought of" without specifying by whom the thought was held. For example, instead of saying "The project was thought of as a success", specify "The project was thought of as a success by the team" to avoid ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was thought of" functions as a passive construction, indicating how something was perceived, considered, or regarded in the past. Ludwig examples confirm its use across diverse contexts. As Ludwig AI states, this is a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

21%

Encyclopedias

13%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

3%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was thought of" is a versatile phrase used to describe past perceptions and evaluations. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and appropriate for various contexts. Analysis of Ludwig's examples reveals that it commonly appears in news, science, and encyclopedia sources, indicating its wide acceptance. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying who held the particular thought or belief. While alternatives like "was considered" or "was regarded" exist, "was thought of" maintains a neutral tone suitable for diverse writing scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was considered to be

Emphasizes a formal evaluation or judgment.

was regarded as

Focuses on the general opinion or view held by people.

was deemed to be

Implies an official or authoritative assessment.

was viewed as

Highlights a specific perspective or way of seeing something.

was perceived as

Stresses the subjective impression or understanding.

was conceived as

Focuses on the initial idea or mental image.

was imagined as

Highlights the creative or hypothetical aspect.

was understood as

Emphasizes comprehension and interpretation.

was looked upon as

Suggests a specific attitude or evaluation.

was believed to be

Implies a conviction or acceptance of something as true.

FAQs

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

Use "was thought of" to describe how something was perceived or considered in the past. For example, "The proposal "was thought of" as innovative at the time." You can specify who held this view, like "The proposal "was thought of" as innovative by the committee".

What is a good alternative to "was thought of"?

Alternatives include "was considered to be", "was regarded as", or "was viewed as", depending on the nuance you wish to convey. For instance, "The idea "was considered to be" radical" suggests a more formal evaluation.

Is it correct to say "was thought of by"?

Yes, "was thought of by" is correct and specifies the person or group who held the thought or idea. For example, "The solution "was thought of" by the engineering team."

What's the difference between "was thought of as" and "was considered as"?

While both phrases are similar, ""was thought of" as" often implies a general perception or informal assessment, while "was considered as" suggests a more deliberate or formal evaluation. "The plan "was thought of" as risky" implies a general feeling, whereas "The plan was considered as high-risk" suggests a formal risk assessment.