were thought

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were thought" is correct and usable in written English.
It is a past tense form of the verb "to think," which is typically used in the construction "they were thought" to indicate that a group of people were considered to feel or believe a certain way. For example: "The villagers were thought to be superstitious in their beliefs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Simian puns were thought clever.

The Guardian - Opinion

All were thought to have been passengers.

Independent

None were thought to have survived, though".

The New York Times

Volcanoes were thought to be involved.

Independent

Directors were thought of as "auteurs".

The Guardian - Film

Grand gestures were thought far less important.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Were those things that were thought out?

The New York Times - Sports

"That's because we were thought worthless.

The Guardian - Books

Asian-Americans were thought of as eternally foreign until recently".

The New York Times - Books

They were thought to have died in the attempt.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Most of dead and injured were thought to be Mozambican.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were thought" to convey a past belief or understanding that may or may not be currently accurate. It's particularly effective when introducing a superseded idea or a historical perspective.

Common error

Ensure you're not inadvertently using "were thought" when the present tense "are thought" is more appropriate. The past tense implies that the belief is no longer current.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were thought" functions as a passive construction, indicating a past belief or opinion held by an unspecified group. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. Example: 'Volcanoes were thought to be involved'.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

59%

Science

39%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were thought" is a grammatically sound and frequently used passive construction. As Ludwig AI confirms, it correctly indicates a belief or opinion that was held in the past, often contrasting with present understandings. Predominantly found in News & Media and Scientific contexts, the phrase serves to provide historical perspective. When using "were thought", ensure the past tense aligns with your intended meaning, and consider related phrases like "were believed" or "were considered" to add nuance. The frequency of "were thought" and its presence in reputable sources underscore its reliability in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were believed

Replaces "thought" with a synonym, "believed", maintaining a focus on past assumptions, with minimal semantic shift.

were considered

Substitutes "thought" with "considered", highlighting a more deliberate evaluation or judgment, implying a more conscious assessment.

were deemed

Uses "deemed" instead of "thought", suggesting a formal judgment or official assessment.

were regarded

Employs "regarded" in place of "thought", emphasizing the way something was viewed or perceived by others.

were understood

Replaces "thought" with "understood", focusing on a shared comprehension or grasp of a situation, rather than a mere opinion.

were presumed

Substitutes "thought" with "presumed", indicating an assumption made without concrete evidence.

were supposed

Uses "supposed" instead of "thought", suggesting an expectation or convention, rather than a firmly held belief.

were assumed

Replaces "thought" with "assumed", highlighting a belief taken for granted without proof.

were expected

Employs "expected" in place of "thought", implying a prediction or anticipation based on prior knowledge or patterns.

were imagined

Substitutes "thought" with "imagined", suggesting something conceived or created in the mind, possibly without a basis in reality.

FAQs

How can I use "were thought" in a sentence?

Use "were thought" to express past beliefs or assumptions. For example, "The Earth was thought to be flat" indicates a former, now discredited, belief.

What's a good substitute for "were thought"?

Alternatives include "were believed", "were considered", or "were presumed", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it correct to say "was thought" instead of "were thought"?

"Was thought" is used for singular subjects, while "were thought" is for plural subjects. For example, "The idea was thought to be innovative," versus "The ideas were thought to be innovative".

How does "were thought" differ from "are thought"?

"Were thought" indicates a past belief, while "are thought" expresses a current belief. For example, "unicorns were thought to be mythical creatures" versus "unicorns are thought to be mythical creatures (by some people)".