are being driven

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are being driven" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in the passive voice to indicate that something is currently being propelled or influenced by an external force or factor. Example: "The changes in policy are being driven by the need for greater transparency in government."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Prices are being driven by speculative demand.

The Economist

"Now searches are being driven by shopping".

The New York Times - Tech

Some neuroscientists are being driven underground here".

The Guardian

Bees are being driven to the brink.

The Guardian

"Many people are being driven to bankruptcy.

The New York Times

In some cases people are being driven to destitution.

The New York Times

The rest are being driven over in Russian cars.

The Guardian

The talks are being driven by new leadership at Salomon.

The New York Times

"These people are being driven out of London.

The Guardian - Books

Two such factors are being driven by the senior judiciary.

The Guardian

Universities, he says, "are being driven by madmen".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "are being driven" to clearly indicate that an action or event is currently being caused or influenced by external factors. This construction is particularly useful in passive voice sentences where the emphasis is on the action rather than the actor.

Common error

Avoid overusing passive voice constructions like "are being driven", as it can make your writing sound vague or indirect. Consider using active voice to clearly identify the actors influencing the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are being driven" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that the subject is receiving the action of driving. As Ludwig AI indicates, this construction is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

16%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "are being driven" is a grammatically sound and frequently used passive verb construction that indicates influence or propulsion by external factors. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides many examples across diverse domains. While very common in news and media, appearing also in academia and formal business writing, it is crucial to avoid overusing passive voice to maintain clarity and engagement. When using "are being driven", ensure the context benefits from emphasizing the action over the actor, and consider alternative active voice constructions for stronger, more direct writing. The prevalence across authoritative sources like The Guardian, The New York Times, and The Washington Post, underlines its acceptance and utility in formal English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are being propelled

Replaces "driven" with "propelled", emphasizing the force pushing something forward.

are being influenced

Substitutes "driven" with "influenced", highlighting the impact of external factors.

are being compelled

Uses "compelled" instead of "driven", suggesting a sense of obligation or necessity.

are being motivated

Replaces "driven" with "motivated", focusing on the reasons behind an action.

are being pushed

Uses "pushed" instead of "driven", implying a more forceful action.

are being guided

Substitutes "driven" with "guided", emphasizing direction and control.

are being led

Replaces "driven" with "led", suggesting leadership or guidance by a person or group.

are being shaped

Uses "shaped" instead of "driven", highlighting the formative influence.

are being dictated

Substitutes "driven" with "dictated", implying a strict and forceful direction.

are being orchestrated

Replaces "driven" with "orchestrated", emphasizing a coordinated and planned influence.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "are being driven" to sound more active?

To make the sentence more active, identify the driving force and make it the subject. For example, instead of "Prices are being driven by speculative demand," you could say "Speculative demand is driving prices."

What's a synonym for "are being driven" that emphasizes influence?

If you want to emphasize influence, consider using alternatives like "are being influenced" or "are being affected". These options highlight the impact of external factors on the subject.

When is it appropriate to use "are being driven" in formal writing?

The phrase "are being driven" is suitable for formal writing when you need to emphasize the process or the result of an action without specifying the actor. It is often used in reports, analyses, and academic papers where objectivity is important.

Is "are being driven" interchangeable with "is being driven"?

No, "are being driven" is used when referring to a plural subject, while "is being driven" is used for a singular subject. For example, "Prices are being driven by demand" (plural) versus "The decision is being driven by necessity" (singular).