are killed by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are killed by" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts discussing causes of death or the effects of certain actions or events on living beings. Example: "Many species are killed by habitat destruction and pollution."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

People are killed by lies.

The New Yorker

Many victims are killed by their assailants.

The Economist

Other requests are killed by red tape.

The New York Times - Health

Others are killed by men they knew.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

We are killed by Western weapons".

The New York Times

4 children are killed by abuse or neglect.

The New York Times

Qaeda officials who are killed by drones will be replaced.

The New York Times

Most women who are killed are killed by men.

Independent

Most men who are killed are killed by men.

Independent

7 children or teens are killed by firearms.

The New York Times

The overwhelming majority of victims are killed by guns, and the majority of those are killed by handguns.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "are killed by", ensure that the agent or cause of death is clearly specified for clarity and impact. For example, "Many trees are killed by the invasive species." is more effective than "Many trees are killed."

Common error

A common mistake is using "are killed by" without specifying the agent, which can lead to confusion. Instead of saying "Soldiers are killed", specify "Soldiers are killed by enemy fire" to avoid ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are killed by" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that a subject (the one who dies) is acted upon by an agent or cause. Ludwig shows that it's used to express the cause of death or destruction, shifting focus from the actor to the affected.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

32%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "are killed by" is a common and grammatically sound passive construction used to indicate the cause of death or destruction. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its prevalence across various sources, particularly in news, scientific, and wiki contexts. The phrase serves to assign responsibility or causality, and while it maintains a neutral register, its impact can be heightened by explicitly specifying the agent or cause. Keep in mind that using a more active voice may be more impactful than the passive form when possible.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

die as a result of

A more formal way of saying something leads to death.

are victims of

This alternative focuses on those who suffer death as a result of something.

are caused by death from

This alternative emphasizes the causal relationship between something and the resulting deaths.

lose their lives to

A more emotive and descriptive alternative.

are fatalities due to

This phrase highlights the fatal consequences resulting from a specific cause.

perish because of

Emphasizes the reason for dying.

succumb to

Implies yielding to a cause, leading to death.

are ended by

Focuses on the termination of life by an external factor.

are dispatched by

Implies a deliberate act of killing, though not necessarily malicious.

are terminated by

A formal and clinical way of saying death is caused by something.

FAQs

How to use "are killed by" in a sentence?

Use "are killed by" to indicate the cause of death, for example, "Many animals are killed by habitat loss."

What can I say instead of "are killed by"?

You can use alternatives like "die as a result of", "are victims of", or "perish because of" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "were killed by" instead of "are killed by"?

Yes, "were killed by" is the past tense form and is correct when referring to past events. "Are killed by" is used for present or general statements.

What's the difference between "are killed by" and "killed by"?

"Are killed by" is a passive construction that emphasizes the receiver of the action (those being killed), while "killed by" can be part of a more active sentence structure. For example, "Diseases are killed by antibiotics" versus "Antibiotics killed the diseases".