be shortened

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be shortened" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of making something shorter in length or duration. Example: "The meeting will be shortened to accommodate everyone's schedule."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Could they be shortened?

The Guardian

Both phases could be shortened.

The Washington Post

Cassandra: Does everything have to be shortened?

The Times

The period of schooling should be shortened.

The New York Times

Long descriptive terms can be shortened into mnemonic units.

Britannica

The whole walk is 17km, but can be shortened.

The Guardian - Travel

Very good, although it would need to be shortened.

The New York Times - Travel

The observation period of samples can significantly be shortened.

Optik - International Journal for Light and Electron Optics

Accordingly, the length of whitening filter can be shortened.

Signal Processing

Virtually everything I buy has to be shortened.

The New York Times - Health

It wants the current deadlines to be shortened dramatically.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "be shortened", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being reduced in length or duration. For example, "The presentation will be shortened to fit the time slot."

Common error

Avoid using "be shortened" without specifying what is being shortened. For instance, instead of saying "The text should be shortened", specify "The text of the introduction should be shortened."

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "be shortened" is to form the passive voice of the verb "shorten". As Ludwig AI confirms, it is used to indicate that something is having length or duration reduced by an unspecified agent. Examples show its usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

35%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be shortened" functions as a passive construction indicating a reduction in length, duration, or extent. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is grammatically correct and widely used, especially in news, scientific and academic contexts. While generally neutral in tone, its effectiveness relies on clear context and specificity, avoiding ambiguity about what is being reduced. Remember to specify what exactly needs to "be shortened" to avoid confusion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be made shorter

A more direct and simple way of expressing the same idea.

be reduced in length

Focuses specifically on the physical dimension of length being decreased.

be decreased in duration

Specifically addresses the reduction of time.

be abridged

Suggests a deliberate effort to condense a written work or speech.

be condensed

Emphasizes the compression of information or material into a smaller space or time.

be compressed in time

Highlights the squeezing of an event or process into a shorter timeframe.

be curtailed

Implies a sudden or premature reduction, often due to external factors.

be trimmed down

Suggests a careful and precise reduction, removing unnecessary elements.

be lessened

Indicates a general decrease in size, amount, or intensity.

undergo reduction

A more formal way of saying something is being reduced.

FAQs

How can I use "be shortened" in a sentence?

You can use "be shortened" in passive constructions to indicate that something is made shorter, for example, "The meeting will "be shortened" to one hour" or "The essay needs to "be shortened" by 200 words".

What are some alternatives to "be shortened"?

Alternatives to "be shortened" include "be reduced", "be abridged", "be condensed", or "be made shorter" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to use "be shortened" or "become shorter"?

"Be shortened" is generally used in passive voice, indicating an action done to something, while "become shorter" describes something changing on its own. For example, "The rope was shortened" versus "The days become shorter in winter."

Which is correct: "the document needs shortened" or "the document needs to be shortened"?

"The document needs to "be shortened"" is the correct form. "The document needs shortened" is grammatically incorrect in standard English.