been encouraged

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "been encouraged" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone has received support or motivation to do something, often in a passive construction. Example: "She has been encouraged by her friends to pursue her passion for painting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Tourism generally has been encouraged.

Encyclopedia Britannica

And that's been encouraged.

The New York Times

Mr. Senor has been encouraged to run by party leaders.

The New York Times

Aquaculture has been encouraged in carefully selected areas.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Public comment on the rules has been encouraged.

The New York Times

Partly they've been encouraged to think they're ignorant about it.

The New York Times

He had long been encouraged to make the move.

The New Yorker

Challengers have also been encouraged in the retail energy market.

The Economist

Tells how industry has been encouraged to take part.

The New Yorker

MR. KOZLOWSKI, too, has been encouraged by occasional well-wishers.

The New York Times

Layden has been encouraged by the Knicks' play.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "been encouraged" in the passive voice to emphasize the source or cause of the encouragement rather than the recipient. For instance, "Innovation has been encouraged by the new government policies."

Common error

Avoid using "been encouraged" when the actor is known and should be emphasized. For example, instead of "The team has been encouraged by the coach", consider "The coach encouraged the team" to highlight the coach's direct action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "been encouraged" functions as a passive construction of the verb 'encourage'. It signifies that someone or something has received support, motivation, or endorsement from an external source. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is grammatically sound and widely accepted.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Social Media

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "been encouraged" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used in the passive voice to indicate that someone or something has received support or motivation. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is widespread across various contexts, particularly in news, science, and encyclopedic sources. When writing, it's important to consider whether the active or passive voice is more appropriate, and to avoid using "been encouraged" when the actor is known and should be emphasized. Alternatives like "received encouragement" or "were motivated" can offer nuanced variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

received encouragement

Focuses on the act of receiving support rather than the state of being supported.

were motivated

Emphasizes the internal drive created by external influence.

were inspired

Implies a higher level of enthusiasm and creativity spurred by influence.

were supported

Highlights the provision of assistance and resources.

were urged

Suggests a strong recommendation or persuasion.

were advised

Implies a formal or expert recommendation.

were prompted

Suggests a gentle push or reminder.

were stimulated

Focuses on intellectual or creative activation.

were persuaded

Emphasizes the act of convincing someone to do something.

were emboldened

Highlights the increase in confidence and courage.

FAQs

How can I use "been encouraged" in a sentence?

Use "been encouraged" to show someone or something has received support or motivation. For example: "Students have "been encouraged" to participate in extracurricular activities."

What are some alternatives to "been encouraged"?

Alternatives include "received encouragement", "were motivated", or "were urged" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

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

It depends on the context. Use the active voice (e.g., "The teacher encouraged the students") when you want to emphasize the actor. Use the passive voice ("The students have "been encouraged"") when you want to emphasize the recipient of the action or when the actor is unknown or less important.

What is the difference between "been encouraged" and "encouraged"?

"Encouraged" is the past tense of the verb "encourage", while "been encouraged" is the past participle used in passive constructions. For example, "She encouraged him yesterday", versus "He has "been encouraged" by her support".