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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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believed observed

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "believed observed" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express a belief based on observation, but as it stands, it lacks clarity and grammatical structure. Example: "The results were believed observed by the researchers, but further analysis was needed."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

(These powerful creatures, it was believed, observed all things but passed no judgments).

News & Media

The New Yorker

"A result of poor risk management at some financial institutions was that the spreading of risk, one of the purported benefits of the originate-to-distribute model, proved to be much less extensive than many believed," observed Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, in a speech earlier this month.

News & Media

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Anecdotally, neither observer believed they observed any explicit incidences of either.

In 2006 Mr. Zimerman halted a performance at Carnegie Hall when he believed he observed a concertgoer recording the recital.

News & Media

The New York Times

It is almost certain that he reached only slightly beyond 80° N, and the "open polar sea" that he believed he observed was, in actuality, Kennedy Channel, which separates Greenland from Ellesmere Island.

He also believed, having observed the success of the Dutch in exploiting the spice trade in the East Indies, that France could use paper money to develop its colonial possessions.

News & Media

The Economist

Around 10 years ago, scientists using telescopes on Earth believed they observed methane plumes on Mars, raising hopes of exotic life forms there.

News & Media

Vice

The possible explanation for the different reported behaviour before the suicide attempts or completed suicides could be a hindsight bias, because after reviewing the suicide acts, some peers believed they observed the unusual behaviour displayed by the deceased students.

[0]48, samples failed by end brooming, matrix crushing and delamination, without registering the widely observed fiber kinking mechanism, which we believe is observed when the specimen ends are gripped.

"I couldn't believe it," observes McLaren, who was in town last week, looking as manic as ever, except that his hair has moderated from a Category 5 hurricane to a Category 3. "His campaign manager phoned me up.

News & Media

The New Yorker

"Let us reach out together to those who may neither believe nor observe and reassure them that we share with them the core values of America, that our faith is not inconsistent with their freedom, and that our mission is not one of intolerance but one of love," Mr. Lieberman said.

News & Media

The New York Times
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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When intending to convey that something was both believed and observed, use grammatically correct alternatives like "believed to have been observed" or "thought to be observed" for improved clarity and acceptance.

Common error

Don't use the phrase "believed observed" as it's grammatically awkward. Instead, clarify the intended meaning with options such as "believed to be observed" or "believed that they observed".

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

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

81%

Authority and reliability

2.2/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "believed observed" attempts to combine the passive voice of "believed" with the past participle of "observed". However, it doesn't form a standard grammatical construction in English. Ludwig AI indicates this is not correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "believed observed" is grammatically incorrect and not recommended for use. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. While it attempts to convey that something was both believed and observed, it lacks clarity and precision. It's best to use alternative phrases such as "believed to be observed" or "thought to be observed", which are grammatically sound and more easily understood. The contexts in which this phrase appears are primarily within scientific and news media sources, however, due to its grammatical incorrectness, it should be avoided in formal writing. Focus on using established and grammatically correct alternatives to communicate your intended meaning effectively.

FAQs

How can I properly use the idea of something both believed and observed in a sentence?

Instead of "believed observed", use phrases like "believed to be observed" or "believed to have been observed" for better grammatical correctness. For example, "The phenomenon was "believed to be observed" under specific conditions".

What is a more common way to express something that was "believed observed"?

Alternatives like "thought to be observed" or "considered observed" are more conventional. "The effect was "thought to be observed" during the experiment" provides a clearer meaning.

Is "believed observed" grammatically correct?

No, "believed observed" is grammatically incorrect and awkward. It's better to use phrases like "believed to have been observed", or rephrase the sentence to use a more active construction.

What's the difference between "believed observed" and "believed to be observed"?

"Believed observed" is grammatically incorrect. "Believed to be observed" is grammatically correct, conveying the idea that something is thought to be noticed or witnessed. Therefore, always use ""believed to be observed"".

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Source & Trust

81%

Authority and reliability

2.2/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: