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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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been suggested to affect

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "been suggested to affect" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to convey that something has been proposed as having an impact, but the construction is awkward and unclear. Example: "It has been suggested to affect the outcome of the experiment, but further research is needed."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Melatonin has been suggested to affect human emotion, but conflicting evidence exists.

A single nucleotide polymorphism at codon 25 has been suggested to affect fibrosis progression in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection, fatty liver disease, and hereditary hemochromatosis.

Science

Cytokine

The growth hormone (GH) receptor (GHR) exon 3 deleted/full-length (d3/fl) polymorphism has been suggested to affect GH sensitivity.

Dopamine has been suggested to affect novelty processing and memory, which suggests that these processes are also implicated in PD and that DRT could affect them.

Al has been associated with neuronal and glial dysfunctions, and neuronal changes have been suggested to affect several neurotransmitter systems including the dopaminergic system.

The purity of CNT has also been suggested to affect the toxicity.

© 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Morphological and hemodynamic parameters have been suggested to affect the rupture of cerebral aneurysms, but detailed mechanisms of rupture are poorly understood.

This concept would be synonymous with the poly-compartment syndrome which has previously been suggested to affect the head, thorax, abdomen [26] and extremities.

Mutations in NRG3 have been associated with schizophrenia, a condition that has been suggested to affect human-specific cognitive traits (65, 66).

Science & Research

Science Magazine

The availability of iron to the plant has also been suggested to affect flower colour.

Hypnosis has also been suggested to affect that part of the brain, which is associated with where the emotional content of pain is processed.

News & Media

Vice
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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While the phrase "been suggested to affect" is frequently used, consider using stronger verbs like "influence", "impact", or "alter" to convey a more direct and confident tone. Also, consider rephrasing to use active voice for better clarity.

Common error

Avoid relying solely on passive constructions like "been suggested to affect". Instead, actively state who is suggesting the effect. For example, instead of "X has been suggested to affect Y", write "Researchers suggest that X affects Y".

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

82%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "been suggested to affect" functions as a passive construction used to introduce a potential causal relationship or influence. It softens the assertion by indicating that the link is a suggestion or possibility, not a confirmed fact. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase may be awkward.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

66%

Academia

12%

News & Media

8%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "been suggested to affect" is a common way to introduce a potential influence or causal relationship. However, as Ludwig AI points out, the construction is grammatically questionable and may be awkward. While prevalent in scientific and academic contexts, using stronger verbs and active voice can enhance clarity and impact. Consider alternatives like "been proposed to influence" or "been hypothesized to impact" for improved writing. Although the phrase appears frequently, mindful use and awareness of more direct options are essential for effective communication.

More alternative expressions(10)

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

been proposed to influence

Replaces "suggested to affect" with "proposed to influence", emphasizing the formal presentation of an idea rather than a mere suggestion.

been hypothesized to impact

Substitutes "suggested to affect" with "hypothesized to impact", framing the relationship as a testable scientific hypothesis.

been indicated to influence

Changes "suggested to affect" to "indicated to influence", suggesting that there's evidence pointing towards the relationship.

been speculated to alter

Replaces "suggested to affect" with "speculated to alter", implying that the relationship is based on conjecture or incomplete information.

been theorized to modify

Changes "suggested to affect" to "theorized to modify", indicating that the relationship is part of a formal theory.

been presumed to influence

Replaces "suggested to affect" with "presumed to influence", implying that the relationship is assumed to be true based on prior knowledge or beliefs.

been posited to impact

Substitutes "suggested to affect" with "posited to impact", emphasizing the formal assertion of an idea or principle.

been understood to alter

Changes "suggested to affect" to "understood to alter", indicating a general agreement of how something is comprehended.

been considered to change

Replaces "suggested to affect" with "considered to change", indicating a state of deliberation about something, not a definitive statement.

been believed to modify

Changes "suggested to affect" to "believed to modify", indicating that it is a matter of faith.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "been suggested to affect"?

Alternatives include "been proposed to influence", "been hypothesized to impact", or "been indicated to influence", depending on the context and the desired level of formality.

How can I make my writing more direct when using the idea of "been suggested to affect"?

Instead of using the passive voice construction, rephrase the sentence to clearly state who is making the suggestion and what is being affected. For example, change "The policy has been suggested to affect economic growth" to "Economists suggest that the policy affects economic growth".

Is "been suggested to affect" grammatically correct?

While commonly used, "been suggested to affect" can be considered awkward. Ludwig AI suggests it's not the best choice and recommends alternatives for clearer and more impactful writing.

When is it appropriate to use "been suggested to affect"?

Although it's widespread, it is better to use this phrase only when you want to emphasize the suggestion aspect, rather than the direct impact. However, even in those cases, stronger and more direct alternatives are usually preferable.

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Source & Trust

82%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: