are believed to

USAGE SUMMARY

"are believed to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are expressing an opinion or idea that is shared by a group of people. For example: Ancient artifacts found in this region are believed to be thousands of years old.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Now, a mere 97 are believed to survive.

Science Magazine

Surveys revealed that some fields are believed to require attributes such as brilliance and genius, whereas other fields are believed to require more empathy or hard work.

Science Magazine

Veterans of the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are believed to be especially vulnerable.

Science Magazine

(Descendents of these returnees are believed to be the turkeys present in most grocery stores today).

Science Magazine

Fewer than 400,000 elephants are believed to remain in 18 sub-Saharan countries.

Science Magazine

Cosmic gamma rays are believed to be produced by violent astrophysical events such as supernovas.

Science Magazine

But confirmed cases are believed to be only a small portion of the true influenza burden.

Science Magazine

Most gamma-ray bursts are believed to signal the violent death of rapidly spinning, massive stars.

Science Magazine

Other possible effects need to be evaluated, he admits, but they are believed to be minimal.

Science Magazine

Both compounds are believed to play a role in mitochondrial function.

Science Magazine

Of all the domesticated animals, only pigs are believed to have been domesticated more than once.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "are believed to" when expressing a widely held opinion or theory, especially when the evidence is not conclusive but generally accepted within a community or field. For example, "These symptoms are believed to be indicative of a rare condition."

Common error

Avoid overuse of passive constructions like "are believed to", as they can make your writing sound less direct and engaging. Consider rephrasing to active voice where appropriate, such as "Experts believe that..." instead of "It is believed that...".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are believed to" functions as a hedge, softening a claim by attributing the belief to an unspecified group. Ludwig AI confirms this usage with numerous examples where uncertain or generally accepted knowledge is expressed. It serves to present information as plausible without asserting it as definitively proven.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

70%

News & Media

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "are believed to" is a versatile expression used to convey widely held opinions or assumptions, particularly when definitive proof is lacking. Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically correct and frequently used, especially in science, news, and formal business contexts. When writing, it's important to use "are believed to" judiciously, considering alternatives like "are thought to" or "are considered to" to prevent overuse of the passive voice. Remember that while it signals common acceptance, it doesn't guarantee factual accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are thought to

This alternative implies a similar level of belief or common opinion, but it is slightly less formal.

are considered to

This alternative suggests a more formal and deliberate evaluation leading to a shared opinion.

are presumed to

This alternative indicates an assumption based on probability or reasonable evidence, slightly stronger than a belief.

are understood to

This suggests a common understanding or accepted knowledge within a particular field or group.

are regarded as

This emphasizes the perspective or evaluation of something, often by experts or a specific group.

are deemed to

This alternative indicates a formal judgment or assessment, often by an authority.

are known to

This suggests established knowledge or proven fact, which is stronger than belief.

are expected to

This conveys an anticipation or prediction rather than a belief, focusing on future events.

are anticipated to

Similar to 'are expected to', this phrase highlights anticipation but can also imply a stronger degree of confidence.

are rumored to

This implies information is based on hearsay or unverified sources, contrasting with the more grounded sense of 'are believed to'.

FAQs

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

Use "are believed to" to express an opinion or idea that is widely accepted but not definitively proven. For example, "The artifacts discovered are believed to be from the Roman era".

What are some alternatives to "are believed to"?

You can use alternatives such as "are thought to", "are considered to", or "are presumed to" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "are believed to" in writing?

It is appropriate to use "are believed to" when you want to present information that is generally accepted as true but lacks concrete evidence. This phrase is common in academic, scientific, and news reporting.

Is "are believed to" formal or informal?

"Are believed to" is generally considered neutral to slightly formal. It is suitable for academic, professional, and news contexts but might sound overly formal in casual conversation. Simpler alternatives like "are thought to" may be preferred in informal settings.