are alter

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are alter" is not correct in English and does not convey a clear meaning.
It seems to be an incomplete or incorrect expression, and without additional context, it cannot be used effectively in written English. Example: "The conditions are alter" does not make sense; it may have intended to say "The conditions are altered."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

The asset-hunters will have to convince the courts that these entities are alter egos of the government.

The Economist

Her portraits are alter egos, she said the other day: "I'm exploring the parts of myself that women tend to suppress".

The New York Times

The game also mixes glamour with ordinariness in subtle proportion: players are hero-worshipped, but one reason you revere them is because they are alter egos, who could easily be you.

The Guardian - Opinion

Though Iris resents having to be responsible for her dreamy, wayward sister, it soon becomes clear that the two girls are alter egos of sorts -- doppelgangers and soul mates, like so many of the paired heroines in Ms. Atwood's novels, from Cordelia and Elaine in "Cat's Eye" to Zenia and her adversaries in "The Robber Bride".

The New York Times - Books

Today's secret words are alter ego: Paul Reubens, below, the artist known forever in our hearts as Pee-wee Herman, will make a rare out-of-character appearance as himself for a public interview as part of the 11th-annual New Yorker Festival in October, its organizers said on Tuesday.

The New York Times

Whether they are alter egos (Michael Cera, Youth in Revolt), clones (Arnold Schwarzenegger, The 6th Day), doppelgängers (Jake Gyllenhaal, Enemy) or twins (Nicolas Cage, Adaptation), this mashup will succeed in alerting you to just how many times this trick has been pulled.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Chronologies are altered.

The New York Times

Companies are altering their repertories.

The New York Times - Arts

Their facial structures are altered with makeup.

The New York Times

Gas prices are altering the dynamics.

The New York Times - Sports

Narratives are altered.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "are alter" as a standalone phrase. Instead, use grammatically correct alternatives like "are altered" or "have been altered".

Common error

Be careful not to confuse the verb "alter" with its past participle "altered". "Alter" is the base form of the verb, while "altered" is used after auxiliary verbs like "are", "is", "was", or "have".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are alter" is grammatically incorrect as it mismatches verb forms. "Alter" is the base form of the verb, but after "are", the past participle "altered" is required. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase itself is not a correct construction.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "are alter" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided. The correct form is "are altered". As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase violates standard grammar rules. While the examples show its occasional appearance in news media, this is often due to the phrase being part of a longer, correct expression, or simply an error. To convey the intended meaning of change or modification, use alternatives such as "are changed" or "have been altered".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have been altered

Focuses on the completed action of changing something, indicating a transformation has occurred.

have changed

Indicates a transformation from one state to another, highlighting the difference between the initial and final conditions.

are modified

Emphasizes the act of making partial or minor changes to something, often to improve it.

are transformed

Highlights a significant change in form or appearance, suggesting a more dramatic alteration.

become different

Indicates a shift in characteristics or qualities, pointing out the resulting state of being unlike before.

are adjusted

Focuses on making small changes to achieve a better fit or result, implying a fine-tuning process.

are revised

Emphasizes correcting or improving something by making changes, often after review or feedback.

are amended

Highlights formal changes or additions made to a document or system, suggesting an official update.

are updated

Focuses on bringing something current or modern, implying that it has been refreshed or renewed.

have evolved

Indicates a gradual development or change over time, suggesting a natural or progressive transformation.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use "alter" in a sentence?

The word "alter" is a verb that means to change or modify something. It needs to be conjugated correctly depending on the tense and subject. For example, you could say "They alter the plans" or "The plans "were altered"".

Is it correct to say "are alter"?

No, "are alter" is not grammatically correct. The correct form would be "are altered", which uses the past participle of the verb "alter".

What can I say instead of "are alter"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "are changed", "are modified", or "have been altered".

What's the difference between "alter" and "altered"?

"Alter" is the base form of the verb, while "altered" is the past participle. You use "alter" with helping verbs like "will" (e.g., "They will alter the design"), and "altered" with helping verbs like "are", "is", "was", or "have" (e.g., "The design "is altered"").