was thought to be

USAGE SUMMARY

"was thought to be" is correct and can be used in written English.
For example: "Einstein's Theory of Relativity was thought to be revolutionary."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Delirium once was thought to be transient.

The New York Times

He was thought to be traveling alone.

The New York Times - Sports

He was thought to be dead.

The Economist

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

(He was thought to be 75).

The New York Times

It was thought to be safer.

The New Yorker

He, too, was thought to be gay.

The Guardian - Books

Prudential was thought to be doing the same.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was thought to be" when describing a superseded belief or understanding. This clarifies that the information is no longer current.

Common error

Avoid using "was thought to be" when referring to current beliefs. Instead, use "is thought to be" or "is considered to be".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was thought to be" functions as a passive construction used to describe a past belief, assumption, or understanding. Ludwig AI indicates this phrase is grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

34%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was thought to be" is a grammatically correct and very common expression used to indicate a past belief or understanding. According to Ludwig AI, its function is to provide historical context and highlight changes in perception. As the examples demonstrate, the phrase appears frequently in news and media, as well as scientific contexts. When using this phrase, ensure you are referring to a superseded belief and avoid using it to describe current understandings. Alternatives such as "was believed to be" or "was considered to be" may be suitable depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was believed to be

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

was considered to be

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

was presumed to be

Uses "presumed" instead of "thought", implying an assumption based on probability.

was deemed to be

Replaces "thought" with "deemed", indicating a judgment or official assessment.

was understood to be

Emphasizes a general comprehension or understanding rather than a specific thought.

was regarded as

Focuses on how something was viewed or esteemed.

was rumored to be

Indicates that the information is based on hearsay or unconfirmed reports.

was speculated to be

Highlights that the statement is based on conjecture or guesswork.

was once considered as

Adds temporal context, showing that the belief has changed.

used to be considered as

Uses the structure "used to be" indicating a past situation.

FAQs

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

Use "was thought to be" to indicate a past belief or understanding that is no longer considered accurate. For example, "At one time, the Earth "was thought to be flat"."

What's the difference between "was thought to be" and "is thought to be"?

"Was thought to be" refers to a belief held in the past, while "is thought to be" refers to a current belief. The tense indicates whether the belief is still accepted.

What are some alternatives to "was thought to be"?

You can use phrases like "was believed to be", "was considered to be", or "was presumed to be" depending on the context.

Is "was thought to have been" grammatically correct?

Yes, "was thought to have been" is grammatically correct. It indicates a past belief about a completed action or state. For example, "The missing artifact "was thought to have been stolen"."