are being sought

USAGE SUMMARY

"are being sought" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you describe an ongoing search, for example: "The missing documents are being sought by investigators."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Suspects are being sought.

The New York Times

Outside donors are being sought.

The New York Times

Eight others are being sought.

The New York Times

They are being sought.

The New York Times

Four or five men are being sought.

The New York Times

Two more are being sought.

The Guardian

Two others are being sought.

The New York Times

"New answers are being sought".

The New York Times

Three other boys are being sought.

The New York Times

Nationally, 150,000 units are being sought.

The New York Times

Two other police officials are being sought.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "are being sought" in contexts where a formal or official search is underway. This phrasing adds a level of seriousness and purpose to the search, making it suitable for news reports, legal documents, and scientific papers.

Common error

Avoid replacing "are being sought" with overly informal phrases like "are being looked for" when a more formal tone is appropriate. The passive voice and specific verb choice in "are being sought" convey a sense of official action or importance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are being sought" functions as a passive construction indicating that the subject is the recipient of an action (being searched for). This phrasing is commonly used to convey that an active search or investigation is currently underway. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in numerous contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "are being sought" is a versatile phrase indicating an active search or investigation, as verified by Ludwig AI. It is grammatically sound and frequently employed in formal contexts like news reports and scientific publications. While simpler alternatives exist, "are being sought" conveys a sense of official action, making it suitable for situations where a formal tone is required. When constructing sentences with this phrase, ensure subject-verb agreement (plural subjects) and be mindful of the context to avoid overly informal replacements.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are being pursued

Replaces 'sought' with 'pursued', emphasizing active chasing or following.

are being looked for

Uses a more common and straightforward expression for 'sought'.

are being searched for

Similar to 'looked for', but slightly more formal, indicating a systematic search.

are under investigation

Indicates a formal inquiry or examination is in progress.

are being hunted

Implies an intense and possibly dangerous search.

are wanted

A direct statement of desire or need, often used in legal contexts.

are in demand

Signifies a high level of requests or needs for something.

are in the process of discovery

Highlights the ongoing nature of finding something, more process-oriented.

require acquisition

Emphasizes the need to obtain or secure something.

necessitate procurement

A formal way of saying something needs to be obtained, usually through official channels.

FAQs

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

You can use "are being sought" to indicate that someone or something is the object of a search. For example, "New methods for joining frames "are being sought" in the construction industry".

What can I say instead of "are being sought"?

You can use alternatives like "are being pursued", "are being looked for", or "are being searched for depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Which is correct, "are being sought" or "is being sought"?

"Are being sought" is used with plural subjects, while "is being sought" is used with singular subjects. For example, "New solutions are being sought" (plural) versus "A solution is being sought" (singular).

What's the difference between "are being sought" and "are being found"?

"Are being sought" indicates an ongoing search for something, whereas "are being found" indicates that something is currently in the process of being discovered. "Are being sought" implies the search is active and the item is not yet located.