able to be heard

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "able to be heard" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing something that can be perceived by the sense of hearing. Example: "The music was so soft that it was barely able to be heard over the noise of the crowd."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

And the CFDT, which is supposed to be moderate, has not been able to be heard".

The New York Times

But Mr. Kerry, when finally able to be heard, seemed ready to make up for that.

The New York Times

That it is only now that voices are able to be heard, irrespective of who might not want them to be?

The Guardian

Mr Clegg, who saw an initial boost in popularity ratings after his 2010 turn opposite Mr Cameron and Mr Brown, has already expressed concern that he will not be able to be heard over the "cacophony" of other voices tonight.

The Economist

Transferring the tax burden from the most affluent to the less fortunate, who are always less able to be heard, solves no problems but worsens those we already have.

The New York Times

"It is actually a democratic right for children to be able to be heard and express their views," said Natalie Christian, who has responsibility for duty of care at the BBC, when asked for her view by Davis.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

Being able to retain heard information is an integral part of speech communication.

BioMed Research International

To not be able to hear would be devastating to me.

Huffington Post

We want you to be able to feel heard.

Huffington Post

You will still be able to hear what's going on, just not as clearly.

WikiHow

To master audio, you must be able to accurately hear what is playing back.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the range of audibility, consider specifying the conditions: "The mating call of the male bittern is "able to be heard" from several kilometers away under quiet conditions."

Common error

Avoid using "able to be heard" when you actually mean "able to be understood". Being "able to be heard" refers to the physical act of sound reaching someone's ears, while understanding involves comprehension. Ensure that the context clearly reflects whether you're talking about audibility or comprehension.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "able to be heard" functions as a passive verb phrase. It indicates the capacity or possibility of something being perceived through hearing. Ludwig examples illustrate its usage in describing audibility in various contexts, such as voices, music, or environmental sounds.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Wiki

21%

Science

18%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "able to be heard" is a versatile and grammatically sound expression used to describe something that can be perceived through hearing. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a commonly used phrase across diverse contexts, including news, science, and general writing. While alternatives like "audible" or "capable of being heard" exist, "able to be heard" effectively conveys the potential for sound to reach a listener. Remember to focus on audibility when using this phrase, differentiating it from understandability. This helps ensure clear and precise communication, emphasizing whether a sound can physically reach someone's ears, regardless of whether they comprehend it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

capable of being heard

Replaces "able" with its synonym "capable", maintaining the core meaning.

audible

A more concise adjective directly meaning "able to be heard".

within earshot

Indicates that something is close enough to be heard.

perceptible by hearing

A more formal and descriptive alternative, emphasizing the sensory aspect.

able to get a hearing

Focuses on the opportunity to have one's case or opinion listened to.

able to voice opinions

Highlights the ability to express oneself and be listened to.

allowed to speak

Emphasizes the permission or right to be heard.

given a platform

Implies that someone has been provided with an opportunity to speak and be heard.

having a voice

Suggests influence or the ability to affect change through one's words.

being listened to

Focuses on the act of someone paying attention to what is said.

FAQs

How can I use "able to be heard" in a sentence?

Use "able to be heard" to describe something that can be perceived audibly. For example, "The speaker's voice was barely "able to be heard" over the noise of the crowd."

What are some alternatives to saying "able to be heard"?

You can use "audible", "capable of being heard", or "within earshot" as alternatives depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "unable to be heard"?

Yes, "unable to be heard" is grammatically correct and means something cannot be perceived audibly. For instance, "His whisper was "unable to be heard" in the noisy room."

What's the difference between "able to be heard" and "easy to understand"?

"Able to be heard" refers to the physical audibility of something, whereas "easy to understand" refers to the clarity and comprehensibility of information. Something can be "able to be heard" but not "easy to understand" if it's mumbled or complex.