believed to guide

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "believed to guide" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a belief or assumption about something that provides direction or influence. Example: "The ancient texts are believed to guide the spiritual practices of the community."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Furthermore, Earth's magnetic field is believed to guide plasma from the summer to the winter hemisphere.

Earth, Planets and Space

21-nt siRNAs are believed to guide mRNA cleavage, whereas 24-nt siRNAs are believed to exclusively mediate chromatin modification and transcriptional silencing by acting in a RISC-like complex (Brodersen and Voinnet 2006).

Rice

Although Vietnam is not considered a Buddhist country in any sociologically meaningful sense, moral instructions of the Buddha are believed to guide virtually all Vietnamese to the true value and legitimacy of their actions and help them to distinguish right from wrong (Caldarola, 2011).

International Journal of Corporate Social Responsibility

The piece is also inspired by the ancient Japanese festival of Obon, during which floating lanterns on rivers are believed to guide the spirits of the departed to the spirit world.

Vice

Obon [Puerto Rico]  was also inspired by the ancient Japanese festival of Obon, during which floating lanterns on rivers are believed to guide the spirits of the departed to the spirit world.

Vice

Analysis of surveillance data is believed to guide control strategies in Guangzhou.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

From Leonardo da Vinci to Le Corbusier, the golden ratio is believed to have guided artists and architects over the centuries.

The Guardian - Arts

But unlike the leaders of other religions, who are believed to be guided by the hand of God, Mormon prophets are considered extensions of him.

The New York Times

Furthermore Tol-BMP-ST on gold reproduces the asymmetric directional control of bone formation observed in vivo, a process that is believed to be guided by immobilised ligands.

BMC Biology

We seek whether humans have explicit and conscious access to the saliency computations believed to contribute to guiding attention and eye movements.

Vision Research

They said that the scientist was believed to have helped guide Iranians in the experiments, but that he did not write the document.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "believed to guide", ensure that the belief is attributed to a specific group or source to avoid ambiguity. For example, "Scientists believed the data to guide their research."

Common error

Avoid using "believed to guide" without specifying who holds the belief. Unattributed beliefs can weaken the credibility of your statement. Always provide context or a source for the belief.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "believed to guide" functions as a verb phrase indicating a commonly held opinion or assumption about something's directional influence. Examples from Ludwig show it used in both scientific and general contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

57%

News & Media

43%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "believed to guide" is a grammatically correct and usable English phrase that expresses a common belief about something's directional influence. Ludwig's analysis confirms that it's suitable for various contexts, ranging from scientific discussions to general news reporting. While not extremely common, its usage is consistent and clear. The phrase appears most frequently in scientific and news-related articles. Remember to attribute the belief to a specific source to maintain clarity and credibility in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

thought to lead

Emphasizes the mental process of considering something as a leader or director.

presumed to direct

Highlights the assumption of directing something, often without concrete proof.

considered to steer

Focuses on the act of steering or guiding something towards a specific direction based on consideration.

deemed to influence

Stresses the power of affecting something's course or outcome.

understood to inform

Highlights how something provides the necessary data to formulate an opinion and guide the behaviour.

regarded as channeling

Implies a more active role in guiding or directing something through a specific path.

accepted as conducting

Suggests a formal or agreed-upon method of leading or guiding something.

taken to govern

Emphasizes control and regulation.

suspected of orienting

Implies a level of doubt or lack of certainty about the orientation.

speculated to navigate

Suggests uncertainty and exploration in the guidance process.

FAQs

How can I use "believed to guide" in a sentence?

You can use "believed to guide" to describe something that is thought to provide direction or influence, as in "Ancient texts are "believed to guide" the spiritual practices of the community."

What are some alternatives to "believed to guide"?

Some alternatives include "thought to lead", "presumed to direct", or "considered to steer", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "believed to guide" formal or informal?

"Believed to guide" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though it's more commonly found in neutral to formal writing.

What's the difference between "believed to guide" and "known to guide"?

"Believed to guide" implies a degree of uncertainty or assumption, while "known to guide" suggests established evidence or fact. Use "known to guide" when there is concrete evidence supporting the guidance.