Word Confusion: Though versus Thought

Posted January 23, 2017 by Kathy Davie in Author Resources, Self-Editing, Word Confusions, Writing

Revised as of
4 Jan 2023

I suspect the word confusion over though versus thought is more of a proofreading issue . . . I hope!

Word Confusions . . .

. . . started as my way of dealing with a professional frustration with properly spelled words that were out of context in manuscripts I was editing as well as books I was reviewing. It evolved into a sharing of information with y’all. I’m hoping you’ll share with us words that have been a bête noire for you from either end.

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Though Thought

A close-up of a youngster's face

Fierce courtesy of Reindert is in the public domain, via Pixabay.

“And though she is but little, she is fierce” – Shakespeare, A Midsummer’s Night Dream.


 Vandalized cast of Rodin's Thinker, Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

Damaged Thinker is Daderot’s own work and is in the public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Deep in thought . . .

Part of Grammar:
Adverb; Conjunction, subordinating Morpheme: think


Adjective 2; Noun 1, 2
Verb 2, intransitive & transitive

Plural for the noun: thoughts
Gerund: thinking

Third person present verb: thinks
Past tense or past participle: thought
Present participle: thinking

Adverb:
However (indicating that a factor qualifies or imposes restrictions on what was said previously)

For all that

Conjunction, subordinating:
Despite the fact that

  • Although
  • [With modal; introducing a possibility] Even if
    • [Often preceded by even] Granting that
  • However
    • But (introducing something opposed to or qualifying what has just been said)
  • In spite of the fact that
  • Notwithstanding that
Adjective:
Of or relating to thinking or thought 2

[Informal] Stimulating or challenging to the intellect or mind

Noun:
An idea or opinion produced by thinking or occurring suddenly in the mind 1

  • [One’s thoughts] One’s mind or attention
  • An act of considering or remembering someone or something
  • [Usually thought of] An intention, hope, or idea of doing or receiving something

The action or process of thinking

  • The formation of opinions, especially as a philosophy or system of ideas, or the opinions so formed
  • Careful consideration or attention
  • Concern for another’s well-being or convenience

An act of thinking 2

Verb, intransitive:
To have a conscious mind 2

  • To some extent of reasoning
  • Remembering experiences
  • Making rational decisions

To employ one’s mind rationally and objectively in evaluating or dealing with a given situation

To have a certain thing as the subject of one’s thoughts

To call something to one’s conscious mind

To consider something as a possible action, choice, etc.

To invent or conceive of something

To have consideration or regard for someone

Verb, transitive:
To have or form in the mind as an idea, conception, etc. 2

To have or form in the mind in order to understand, know, or remember something else

To consider for evaluation or for possible action upon

To regard as specified

To believe to be true of someone or something

To analyze or evolve rationally

To have as a plan or intention

Examples:
Adverb:
I was hunting for work. Jobs were scarce though.

Our team lost. It was a good game though.

“Have you ever been to Australia?” “No. I’d like to, though.”

Conjunction, subordinating:
Though they were speaking in undertones, Philip could hear them.

You will be informed of its progress, slow though that may be.

Her first name was Rose, though no one called her that.

He behaved as though he weren’t there.

Even though he was bigger, he never looked down on me.

Adjective:
It was a carefully thought-out argument.

“That was well thought, Jeremy.”

The Thought Police were charged with uncovering and punishing “thoughtcrime” and thought-criminals.

Thought control appears to have been a feature of this last presidential election.

Noun:
Maggie had a sudden thought.

I asked him if he had any thoughts on how it had happened.

Mrs. Oliver’s first thought was to get help.

He’s very much in our thoughts and prayers.

She hadn’t given a thought to Max for some time.

He had given up all thoughts of making Manhattan his home.

Sophie sat deep in thought.

The freedom of thought and action suited him.

It was in the traditions of Western thought.

I haven’t given it much thought.

He is carrying on the life of a single man, with no thought for me.

I went for a walk and had a thought.

Verb, intransitive:
She thought carefully before she began her next project.

I had thought about you. In fact, we thought of nothing else.

She hadn’t thought of the old days in years.

She thought about cutting her hair.

We thought of a new plan.

She always thought of others first.

Verb, transitive:
She thought about Regency England and all the romance that has been written about the time period.

He thought the deal over and decided against it.

He thought me unkind.

My family thought evil of the neighbors.

He very carefully thought the problem out.

I thought that I would go.

Derivatives:
Adjective: thought-provoking, thoughtful, thoughtless
Adverb: thoughtfully, thoughtlessly
Noun: thought-reader, thoughtcrime, thoughtfulness, thoughtlessness
Phrasal Verb
thought back
thought on
thought something out
thought something over
thought something through
thought something up
History of the Word:
Old English thēah is of Germanic origin and related to the Dutch and the German doch. It is superseded in Middle English by forms from the Old Norse thó and thau.
  1. Old English thōht is of Germanic origin and related to the Dutch gedachte, also meaning to think.
  2. Old English thencan is of Germanic origin and related to the Dutch and the German denken.

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C’mon, get it out of your system, bitch, whine, moan . . . which words are your pet peeves? Also, please note that I try to be as accurate as I can, but mistakes happen or I miss something. Email me if you find errors, so I can fix them . . . and we’ll all benefit!

Satisfy your curiosity about other Word Confusions on its homepage or more generally explore the index of self-editing posts. You may also want to explore Book Layout & Formatting Ideas, Formatting Tips, Grammar Explanations, Linguistics, Publishing Tips, the Properly Punctuated, Writing Ideas and Resources, and Working Your Website.

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Resources for Though versus Thought

Apple Dictionary.com

Dictionary.com: thought

Word Reference.com: thought

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Pinterest Photo Credits:

Brainwashing is Cesarleal’s own work and is under the CC BY-SA 3.0 or GFDL license, via Wikimedia Commons.

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