Cool MateConsider vs Thought long and hard
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Consider
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
Thought long and hard
Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Most common: Consider
| Consider | Thought long and hard | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //kənˈsɪdə//🇺🇸 //kənˈsɪdər// | 🇬🇧 //θɔːt lɒŋ ənd hɑːd//🇺🇸 //θɔt lɔŋ ənd hɑrd// |
| Meaning | To think about something carefully. | To think about something carefully for a long time. |
| Example | I will consider your suggestion. | I really thought long and hard before deciding to move. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | consider carefully, consider an option, consider a possibility | think long and hard, thought long and hard about, after thinking long and hard |
| Antonyms | ignore, dismiss, overlook | - |
| Common mistakes | Confuse with 'considering' which is a different form., Omit the object, e.g., saying 'Consider' without specifying what., Mix with 'contemplate', which has a deeper meaning. | Using it in past simple form without context (e.g., 'I thought long and hard')., Forgetting to specify what was thought about (e.g., 'I thought long and hard.' instead of 'I thought long and hard about my decision.')., Confusing the phrase with 'thought deeply' which may not imply a long duration. |
| Usage notes | Use 'consider' when you are thinking about options or possibilities. It’s appropriate in both spoken and written contexts, but may sound too formal in casual conversations. | Commonly used in discussions regarding important decisions. It is neutral and should be avoided in overly casual conversations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Consider vs Thought long and hard
What's the difference between Consider and Thought long and hard?
Consider: To think about something carefully. Thought long and hard: To think about something carefully for a long time.
Which is more common: Consider and Thought long and hard?
Consider is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Consider: I will consider your suggestion. Thought long and hard: I really thought long and hard before deciding to move.
Can I use Consider and Thought long and hard interchangeably?
Not always. Consider and Thought long and hard are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.