be faced with

USAGE SUMMARY

"be faced with" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation or challenge that someone is presented with. For example: "The employees were faced with a difficult decision."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

No man should be faced with that.

Independent

It's horrible to be faced with this.

The Guardian

He's going to be faced with this.

The New York Times - Sports

This, if true, will be faced with enormous internal opposition.

Independent

You're going to be faced with a strong Democratic Congress.

The New Yorker

I don't believe that children should be faced with this.

The New York Times

Mr. Davis will inevitably be faced with delicate political choices.

The New York Times

What will Salvadorans be faced with if they are deported?

The Washington Post

Mr. Bush will be faced with difficult choices.

The New York Times

Then we're going to be faced with interesting choices.

The New York Times

What is it like to be faced with such statistics?

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "be faced with" to describe situations where someone is presented with a challenge, problem, or decision that requires a response or action.

Common error

Avoid overusing passive voice constructions with "be faced with". While grammatically correct, excessive passive voice can make your writing sound weak and indirect. Consider rewriting the sentence in active voice for a more direct and impactful statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be faced with" functions as a verb phrase, typically used in the passive voice to describe a state of being where someone or something is confronted by a situation, often challenging or problematic. Ludwig examples confirm its usage in varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

33%

Academia

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "be faced with" is a common and grammatically sound verb phrase used to describe encountering a situation that often involves challenges or decisions. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's appropriate for various contexts, leaning towards neutral and formal writing styles. This phrase is particularly prevalent in news and scientific publications. Consider using more active voice constructions to make your writing direct when possible. For alternatives, think about using "encounter", "confront", or "deal with" to achieve similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

encounter

This alternative offers a direct and concise way to express the experience of meeting something, often unexpectedly.

confront

This alternative emphasizes a more direct and possibly challenging encounter with a situation.

be presented with

Focuses on the act of something being offered or shown, implying an opportunity or a challenge.

deal with

This implies managing or handling a situation, rather than simply encountering it.

come up against

This phrase indicates encountering opposition or resistance.

grapple with

This suggests a struggle or difficulty in dealing with the situation.

contend with

Similar to 'grapple with', this indicates a struggle or effort in managing something.

meet

This is a more general term for encountering something, without necessarily implying a challenge.

experience

This focuses on the act of undergoing or living through something.

run into

Suggests an unexpected or chance encounter.

FAQs

How can I use "be faced with" in a sentence?

Use "be faced with" to indicate that someone has to deal with a difficult or challenging situation. For example, "The company will "be faced with" tough decisions in the coming months".

What can I say instead of "be faced with"?

You can use alternatives like "encounter", "confront", or "deal with" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to use "be faced with" or "face"?

"Be faced with" is a passive construction, while "face" is active. "Face" is often more direct and concise. For example, instead of "They will "be faced with" a challenge", you can say "They will face a challenge".

What is the difference between "be faced with" and "encounter"?

"Be faced with" often implies a challenging or problematic situation, whereas "encounter" is a more neutral term simply meaning to meet or experience something. For example, you might "be faced with" a difficult problem, but you can also encounter a beautiful sunset.