be collected

USAGE SUMMARY

"be collected" is an acceptable phrase in written English.
It is usually used in the imperative mood to suggest that desired items should be gathered together, or to tell someone to gather something. For example: "Please be sure to collect all the necessary documents before submitting your application."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Trash will not be collected.

The New York Times

Taxes could be collected there.

The New York Times

Where can points be collected?

The Guardian - Money

Where can they be collected?

The Guardian - Money

Data continues to be collected".

The Guardian - Tech

Second, proper case histories can be collected.

The Economist

Rubbish can be collected more efficiently.

The Economist

Garbage would be collected less often.

The New York Times

Urine and blood samples can be collected.

The New York Times - Sports

This is talent waiting to be collected.

The Guardian

"Evidence had to be collected," says Catherine.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "be collected" when referring to the passive action of gathering items, data, or payments. Ensure the context clearly indicates who or what is performing the action of collection.

Common error

Avoid using "be collected" when the active voice would be more direct and clear. For instance, instead of "The samples will be collected by the team", consider "The team will collect the samples".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be collected" functions as a passive verb construction. It indicates that something is the recipient of the action of collecting, rather than the performer. Ludwig examples show usage across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be collected" is a grammatically sound passive verb construction frequently used across various domains, including news, science, and formal business settings. Ludwig AI indicates that it’s employed to describe the process of gathering or assembling items or information, emphasizing the state of being collected. While generally neutral in register, it is essential to ensure its use aligns with the intended clarity and avoid potential ambiguity by opting for active voice when appropriate. Common alternatives include "be gathered", "be obtained", and "be compiled", which may be more suitable depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be gathered

Synonymous; replaces "collected" with "gathered", indicating a slightly more informal gathering.

be accumulated

Implies a gradual increase or buildup over time, contrasting with a single act of collection.

be obtained

Focuses on the act of getting something, rather than the process of assembling it.

be received

Emphasizes the action of taking or accepting something.

be compiled

Suggests the systematic gathering and arranging of information or data.

be harvested

Often used when referring to crops or natural resources being gathered.

be assembled

Implies bringing different parts together to create a whole.

be amassed

Suggests gathering a large quantity of something, often wealth or power.

be brought together

Highlights the act of uniting or convening different entities.

be rounded up

Implies gathering people or animals, often with some effort or force.

FAQs

How to use "be collected" in a sentence?

Use "be collected" to describe a passive action where something is gathered or assembled. For example, "Data will "be collected" from various sources".

What can I say instead of "be collected"?

You can use alternatives like "be gathered", "be obtained", or "be compiled" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "be collected" or "being collected"?

"Be collected" is generally used in future tense or conditional sentences. "Being collected" is used in continuous tenses. For example, "Data will be collected" versus "Data is being collected now".

What's the difference between "be collected" and "collected"?

"Be collected" implies a passive action, while "collected" can be either an adjective or part of an active verb phrase. For example, "The data must be collected" (passive) versus "He collected the data" (active).