are believed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are believed" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate a general opinion or belief held by people regarding a particular subject or situation. Example: "The ancient ruins are believed to be over a thousand years old, according to historians."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

(Eleven more are believed lost).

The New York Times - Arts

The attackers are believed to be jihadists.

The Economist

Both are believed to be abandoned pets.

The New York Times

They are believed killed by the authorities.

The Economist

Chilis are believed to have health benefits.

The New Yorker

They are believed to be illegal immigrants.

The Guardian

Some members are believed to have quit.

The New York Times

Arsenal are believed to be monitoring events.

The Guardian - Sport

They are believed to be friends.

The Guardian

Both infections are believed to be underreported.

The New York Times

Most are believed to be civilians.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "are believed" to convey a sense of widespread, but not necessarily proven, acceptance. It's particularly useful when presenting information that is based on inference or general consensus.

Common error

Avoid using "are believed" when presenting established facts or scientifically proven data. Reserve it for situations where evidence is suggestive but not conclusive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are believed" functions as a passive construction, indicating that a belief is held by an unspecified group of people or a general consensus. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a grammatically correct way to express a commonly held opinion or assumption, as evidenced by numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

36%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

9%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "are believed" serves as a versatile tool for expressing common beliefs or assumptions without asserting them as proven facts. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and prevalence across diverse contexts, including news, science, and academia. While highly common, it's crucial to use this construction judiciously, avoiding its application to definitively established information. Alternatives like "are thought to be" or "are considered to be" can offer subtle shifts in tone and emphasis, further enhancing the precision and effectiveness of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are thought to be

Similar in meaning, but slightly more formal and emphasizes the thinking process.

it is thought that

Uses "thought" as a synonym for "believed", conveying a slightly less certain tone.

are considered to be

Implies a more deliberate evaluation or judgment.

it is believed that

Restructures the phrase, placing emphasis on the general belief rather than the subject.

it's considered that

Uses "considered" to suggest that the phrase is evaluated.

are deemed to be

More formal and suggests an official or authoritative judgment.

are presumed to be

Indicates an assumption based on probability, but without definitive proof.

people believe that

Explicitly attributes the belief to a group of people, providing a more direct assertion.

are understood to be

Suggests a common or widespread understanding.

are rumored to be

Indicates information based on unofficial sources or speculation.

FAQs

How can I use "are believed" in a sentence?

The phrase "are believed" is typically used to express a common, but not necessarily proven, assumption or opinion. For example: "The artifacts "are believed to be" of Roman origin."

What are some alternatives to "are believed"?

Alternatives include "are thought to be", "are considered to be", and "are presumed to be depending" on the degree of certainty you wish to convey.

Is it correct to say "is believed" instead of "are believed"?

The choice between "is believed" and "are believed" depends on whether you're referring to a singular or plural subject. Use "is believed" for singular subjects (e.g. "The theory is believed to be correct") and "are believed" for plural subjects (e.g. "The theories "are believed to be" correct").

What's the nuance between "are believed" and "are known"?

"Are believed" indicates a degree of uncertainty or assumption, while "are known" implies established fact or proven knowledge. For example, "The rumors "are believed to be" false" suggests the falsity is an opinion, whereas "The facts "are known to be" false" suggests it has been definitively proven.