are observed to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are observed to" is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used when describing a situation in which something is seen to occur or happen. For example: "Students are observed to be more engaged when lessons are interactive rather than lecture-based."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

All the NPs observed (Fig. 2) are observed to be constantly shaking during observation.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Adjacent solitons are observed to interact repulsively.

Advances in Space Research

The directions of processive movements of ChiA and ChiB are observed to be opposite.

Nature

In addition, COMFF are observed to have landed on the growing surfaces of COMC.

Nature

FAK clusters are observed to associate with actin filaments (Fig. 5; Supplementary Movie S16).

Nature

Some mean-motion resonances, rather than dispersing asteroids, are observed to collect them.

Britannica

Furthermore, the compounds are observed to be irreversible inhibitors.

The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Most stars are observed to be in binaries; what leads to this outcome?

University of California, Berkeley

For this reason, young stars are observed to be strongly variable coronal X-ray sources.

Harvard University

These effects are observed to be dose- and LET-dependent.

Advances in Space Research

The density gradients chosen are those that are observed to maximize the peak energy for a given plasma density.

Nature

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "are observed to" in formal writing, particularly in scientific or academic contexts, when you want to emphasize that something has been noticed or detected through observation. For example: "The effects of the treatment are observed to diminish over time."

Common error

While grammatically correct, "are observed to" can sound overly formal in casual conversation or informal writing. Opt for simpler alternatives like "are seen to" or "are noticed" to maintain a natural tone in less formal contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are observed to" functions as a passive reporting verb. It's used to indicate that a particular phenomenon or characteristic has been noticed or detected. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

63%

Academia

21%

News & Media

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "are observed to" is a grammatically sound and frequently used construction, particularly in formal contexts such as science and academia. As Ludwig AI validates, it effectively conveys factual observations. While appropriate for formal writing, consider using simpler alternatives like "are seen to" or "are noted" in more casual settings. The phrase serves to present information objectively, emphasizing the act of observation and discovery.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are noted to

This alternative replaces "observed" with "noted", implying a more formal or documented observation.

are seen to

Using "seen" instead of "observed" offers a simpler, more direct way to express that something has been visually noticed.

are found to

This suggests that something has been discovered or revealed through investigation or analysis.

are detected to

Replacing "observed" with "detected" emphasizes the use of instruments or methods to notice something, often in scientific contexts.

are revealed to

This implies that something previously hidden or unknown has been made apparent.

are shown to

Using "shown" suggests that evidence or data supports the observation, often used in research or presentations.

have been found to

This alternative emphasizes the completion of a finding or discovery.

have been seen to

This phrase highlights a completed action of seeing or noticing something.

have been noted to

This indicates a completed action of formally documenting an observation.

have been detected to

This highlights a completed action of detecting something, often scientifically.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "are observed to" to sound more casual?

For a more casual tone, you can use alternatives like "are seen to", "are noticed", or simply restructure the sentence to use a more active voice.

Is it appropriate to use "are observed to" in formal writing?

Yes, "are observed to" is suitable for formal writing, especially in scientific, academic, or technical contexts. It conveys that something has been noted through careful observation.

What's the difference between "are observed to" and "are found to"?

"Are observed to" implies direct observation, while "are found to" suggests a discovery or conclusion reached after investigation or analysis.

Can "are observed to" be used in active voice?

No, "are observed to" is inherently passive. To use active voice, rephrase the sentence. For example, instead of "The effects are observed to diminish", you could say "Researchers observe the effects diminishing".