be sought

USAGE SUMMARY

"be sought" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is the passive form of the verb "seek," meaning to search for or pursue something. It is typically used when referring to someone or something being actively desired or pursued by others. Example: "The new product is expected to be sought after by many customers due to its innovative features and competitive price." Here, "be sought after" means that many customers are expected to actively seek out and want the new product.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Will LEED certification be sought?

The New York Times

Truth will be sought and, hopefully, found.

The New York Times

New avenues have had to be sought.

Independent

Volunteers for redundancy will be sought.

The Guardian

How often will their views be sought?

The Guardian

But his cooperation may be sought nevertheless.

The New York Times

They want to be sought after.

The New York Times

All must be sought out.

BBC

will need to be sought.

Space Policy

Thus other solutions must be sought.

EPJ Techniques and Instrumentation

Therefore some approximate solutions should be sought.

Journal of Theoretical and Applied Physics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "be sought" to emphasize that someone or something is the object of an action, rather than the actor. This passive construction is useful when the seeker is less important than the sought-after entity or outcome.

Common error

Avoid using active voice when the intended meaning requires a passive construction. For example, instead of writing "They seek collaboration", consider "Collaboration should "be sought"" to emphasize the importance of collaboration itself.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "be sought" is that of a passive verb phrase. It indicates that the subject of the sentence is the recipient of the action of seeking. As Ludwig AI explains, it's the passive form of the verb "seek", and Ludwig examples show it's used when someone or something is actively desired.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

38%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "be sought" is a grammatically correct and commonly used passive verb phrase. As Ludwig AI confirms, it conveys that something is actively being looked for or desired. Its frequency is high, particularly in scientific and news contexts. When writing, it is important to remember that "be sought" is the passive form of "seek" and is most effectively used when you want to emphasize the thing being searched for rather than the one doing the seeking. Using related phrases like "be requested" or "be desired" can provide nuanced alternatives depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be requested

This alternative shifts the focus to a formal appeal or demand.

be desired

This alternative emphasizes the aspect of wanting or wishing for something.

be pursued

This alternative highlights active efforts to obtain or achieve something.

be striven for

This alternative implies a dedicated effort or struggle towards a goal.

be aspired to

This alternative suggests ambition or a strong desire to achieve something.

be solicited

This alternative emphasizes the act of formally asking for something.

be courted

This alternative implies flattering or attempting to please someone to gain favor.

be angled for

This alternative suggests indirect or strategic maneuvering to obtain something.

be fished for

This alternative implies attempting to elicit a response or information subtly.

be scrambled for

This alternative suggests a chaotic or competitive rush to obtain something.

FAQs

How do I use "be sought" in a sentence?

"Be sought" is used in the passive voice, indicating that something is being looked for or desired. For example, "Expert advice should "be sought" when making financial decisions."

What are some alternatives to "be sought"?

Alternatives include "be requested", "be desired", or "be pursued", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "seek"?

The choice between active and passive voice depends on the context. Use active voice when the actor is important (e.g., "Researchers seek funding"). Use passive voice with "be sought" when the object of the action is more important (e.g., "Funding is to "be sought" by researchers").

What is the difference between "be sought" and "be found"?

"Be sought" implies an active effort to find something, whereas "be found" implies discovery, regardless of whether it was actively searched for. You "be sought" something with effort, and it might eventually "be found".