are being discovered

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are being discovered" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is currently in the process of being found or revealed. Example: "New species of plants are being discovered in the rainforest every year."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Fewer and fewer antibiotics are being discovered.

The Economist

Across Africa, oil, gas and minerals are being discovered more often than ever before.

The New York Times

But there are systems that live on, and have thrived, because new resources are being discovered for each side.

The New York Times

Many SNPs are associated with disease-causing forms of genes, and more associations are being discovered every month.

The Economist

Bizarre new species are being discovered the world over and hauled back to the dazzled biologists of Europe.

The New York Times - Books

About 15,000 of his private letters have been collected and more are being discovered every year.

The New York Times

The number of possible compounds is almost infinite; perhaps a million are known, and more are being discovered every day.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Across a broad region of tropical Asia new species are being discovered at a very rapid rate.

The Guardian

At the moment there are only 118 elements in the periodic table but new elements are being discovered.

The Guardian

Increasingly, unknowns are being discovered sitting in cafes, loitering on housing estates and at The X Factor-style open auditions.

The Guardian - Film

New uses for these antibodies are being discovered each year.

Protein & Cell

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "are being discovered", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being found or revealed. This phrase is best suited for situations where the discovery process is ongoing or has recently occurred.

Common error

Avoid using "are being discovered" when describing something that was discovered long ago and is already well-known. Use a past tense construction instead, such as "were discovered" or "was discovered".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are being discovered" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that the subject is receiving the action of discovery. Ludwig examples showcase its use across various domains to describe ongoing processes of finding or revealing new information or entities.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

42%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "are being discovered" is a grammatically sound and widely used passive verb construction. According to Ludwig, it accurately describes an ongoing process of finding or revealing something new. It appears frequently in scientific and news contexts, conveying a neutral to formal tone. When using this phrase, make sure the context indicates a recent or ongoing discovery process, and adjust the subject-verb agreement accordingly. Alternative phrasing includes "are being uncovered", "are being identified", and "are being revealed", which offer similar meanings with slight differences in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are being uncovered

Replaces "discovered" with "uncovered", implying something was hidden or concealed.

are being revealed

Focuses on the act of making something known or visible.

are being identified

Emphasizes the act of recognizing or determining the nature of something.

are being found

A simpler and more direct synonym for "are being discovered".

are coming to light

Implies a gradual process of becoming known or apparent.

are surfacing

Suggests that something is emerging or becoming apparent after being hidden.

are being detected

Focuses on the act of noticing or perceiving something, often through technical means.

are under discovery

Rephrases the sentence structure while keeping a similar meaning.

are in the process of being found

Emphasizes the ongoing nature of the discovery.

are gradually emerging

Highlights the gradual nature of something becoming known.

FAQs

How can I use "are being discovered" in a sentence?

Use "are being discovered" to indicate that something is currently in the process of being found or revealed. For example, "New applications for this technology "are being discovered" every year".

What are some alternatives to "are being discovered"?

You can use alternatives like "are being uncovered", "are being identified", or "are being revealed" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "is being discovered" instead of "are being discovered"?

No, the correct usage depends on the subject. Use "is being discovered" for singular subjects (e.g., "A new planet is being discovered") and "are being discovered" for plural subjects (e.g., "New planets "are being discovered"").

What's the difference between "are being discovered" and "have been discovered"?

"Are being discovered" indicates an ongoing process, while "have been discovered" indicates a completed action in the recent past. For example, "New species "are being discovered" in the Amazon" (ongoing), vs. "Many new species "have been discovered" in the last decade" (completed).