was thought to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was thought to" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is often used to indicate that something was believed or perceived in a certain way by someone. Example: The painting was thought to be a masterpiece by art critics, but it was later revealed to be a fake.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He was thought to be dead.

The Economist

Hillary Clinton was thought to have won.

The Economist

Delirium once was thought to be transient.

The New York Times

He was thought to be traveling alone.

The New York Times - Sports

Bigger was thought to be better.

The New Yorker

The patient was thought to be cured.

The New Yorker

Her ailment was thought to be psychosomatic.

The New Yorker

Dr. Jenkins was thought to be both.

The New Yorker

Cabbage was thought to prevent hangovers.

The New York Times

It was thought to combat fatigue.

The Guardian - Travel

(He was thought to be 75).

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was thought to" when describing past beliefs or understandings that may no longer be accurate or universally accepted. This acknowledges a shift in knowledge or perspective.

Common error

Avoid relying too heavily on passive constructions like "was thought to". While grammatically correct, excessive use can make your writing sound vague and less engaging. Consider restructuring sentences to emphasize who held the belief.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was thought to" functions as a passive construction used to express a past belief, assumption, or understanding. It indicates that something was previously considered true or likely, as demonstrated in various examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was thought to" is a grammatically correct and common construction used to indicate past beliefs or assumptions. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used across various contexts, including News & Media, Science and Encyclopedias, with a generally neutral to formal tone. When using this phrase, consider whether the passive voice is the most effective choice and be mindful of its implications regarding current understanding. Alternative phrases like "was believed to" or "was considered to be" can provide nuanced variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was believed to

Replaces 'thought' with 'believed', suggesting a stronger conviction.

was considered to be

Substitutes 'thought' with 'considered', implying a more formal evaluation.

was deemed to be

Uses 'deemed' instead of 'thought', indicating a judgment or official assessment.

was regarded as

Replaces 'thought' with 'regarded', emphasizing a general opinion or viewpoint.

was presumed to be

Employs 'presumed' instead of 'thought', suggesting an assumption based on probability.

was understood to be

Uses 'understood' rather than 'thought', highlighting a shared or common knowledge.

was perceived as

Substitutes 'thought' with 'perceived', focusing on individual interpretation or sensory experience.

was rumored to be

Replaces 'thought' with 'rumored', indicating the belief is based on hearsay or gossip.

was speculated to be

Uses 'speculated' rather than 'thought', highlighting a conjectural or uncertain belief.

was hypothesized to be

Substitutes 'thought' with 'hypothesized', emphasizing a tentative explanation for scientific testing.

FAQs

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

"Was thought to" indicates a past belief. For example, "The Earth /s/was+thought+to be flat until scientific evidence proved otherwise".

What's a good alternative to "was thought to"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "was believed to", "was considered to be", or "was presumed to be".

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "was thought to"?

While "was thought to" is passive, it's often appropriate when the emphasis is on the belief itself rather than who held it. However, consider using the active voice when the actor is important. For example "People /s/believed+that the Earth was flat".

What is the difference between "was thought to" and "is thought to"?

"Was thought to" indicates a belief held in the past, while "is thought to" suggests a current belief. For example, "At one point, the disease /s/was+thought+to be incurable", but now, with new treatment, it /s/is+thought+to be manageable.