It is believed that

USAGE SUMMARY

"It is believed that" is a completely correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to introduce a statement of opinion, for example: "It is believed that time travel will one day be possible."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It is believed that event had 1.6 million PPV buys.

Forbes

And it is believed, that..

Cornell University

For positive real numbers, it is believed that (1.6).

Journal of Inequalities and Applications

It is believed that its activity is synergized by polyphenols.

Nanoscale Research Letters

It is believed that co-morbidity monotonically increases with age.

Princeton University

It is believed that this goal has been achieved.

Fluid Phase Equilibria

It is believed that these morphologies are also self-accommodated.

Acta Materialia

It is believed that those girls have escaped".

Independent

It is believed that the battleship is totally destroyed.

The New York Times

It is believed that around a quarter are children.

Independent

It is believed that hundreds of people could be affected.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "It is believed that" to introduce information that is based on common understanding or indirect evidence, but may not be definitively proven. This adds a layer of objectivity to your writing.

Common error

Avoid relying too heavily on passive constructions like "It is believed that". Opt for active voice when possible to make your writing more direct and engaging. For example, instead of "It is believed that the company will expand", consider "Experts believe the company will expand".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "It is believed that" functions as a hedge, softening a statement by attributing it to a general belief rather than stating it as a definitive fact. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread usage across various domains.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

32%

Academia

24%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

2%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "It is believed that" is a versatile phrase used to introduce statements based on common understanding or indirect evidence, functioning as a hedge to soften claims. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread use across diverse contexts, particularly in news, science, and academic writing. While grammatically correct and widely accepted, be mindful of overusing passive constructions and consider more direct alternatives for engaging writing. Remember to use "It is believed that" when you want to convey a degree of uncertainty or attribute a statement to a general belief.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

The belief is that

Emphasizes the existence of a specific belief.

It is thought that

Implies a more reflective or considered opinion.

It is assumed that

Highlights a presumption made without concrete evidence.

The assumption is that

Highlights the underlying assumption being made.

It is expected that

Focuses on anticipation or likelihood rather than a current belief.

The prevailing view is that

Emphasizes a current dominant perspective.

It is understood that

Indicates a general awareness or agreement.

It is considered that

Suggests a formal or official assessment.

It's the general consensus that

Indicates widespread agreement on a particular point.

People think that

More informal; emphasizes a widely held opinion.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "It is believed that" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "It is posited that", "It is hypothesized that", or "The prevailing view is that". These alternatives /s/prevailing+view are suitable for academic or professional writing.

What are some informal alternatives to "It is believed that"?

In casual contexts, you can use phrases such as "People think that", "It's thought that", or simply state the belief directly without attribution. These alternatives /s/people+think+that are better suited for informal communication.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "It is believed that"?

While "It is believed that" is grammatically correct, using the active voice can often make your writing more direct and engaging. For example, instead of "It is believed that the project will succeed", you could say "Experts believe the project will succeed".

What's the difference between "It is believed that" and "It is known that"?

"It is believed that" implies a degree of uncertainty or assumption, whereas "It is known that" suggests that the information is well-established and supported by evidence. Use /s/it+is+known+that when you're sure about a piece of information.