believed to have

USAGE SUMMARY

'believed to have' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to something that may or may not have happened in the past, but is generally accepted as true. Example: Galileo is believed to have first demonstrated that the earth revolves around the sun.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He is believed to have died immediately.

Independent

Chilis are believed to have health benefits.

The New Yorker

Mr. Awlaki is believed to have survived.

The New York Times

Apple is widely believed to have both.

The New York Times - Tech

(Leon Trotsky was believed to have rented it).

The New York Times - Arts

Chocolate is believed to have antioxidant effects.

University of California, Berkeley

Curtis is believed to have sent letters….

The New Yorker

Kempny is believed to have a concussion.

The Washington Post

He was believed to have been 95.

The Washington Post

Tarrant is believed to have a sister.

The Guardian

He is believed to have been killed.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "believed to have" when you want to convey that something is generally accepted as true, but without definitive proof. This is useful in historical accounts, scientific discussions, and news reporting where certainty is not possible.

Common error

Avoid using "believed to have" when there is concrete evidence available. In such cases, use more assertive language to reflect the factual basis of the statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "believed to have" functions as an epistemic marker, indicating a degree of uncertainty or a lack of definitive proof regarding a past event or state. It suggests that a proposition is generally accepted but not conclusively verified, as demonstrated by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Academia

20%

Science

16%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "believed to have" is a versatile phrase used to express a generally held belief without definitive proof. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's grammatically sound and common across various contexts, particularly in news, academic writing, and scientific discussions. While alternatives like "thought to have" or "presumed to have" can offer nuanced variations, "believed to have" remains a reliable and widely understood option. Be mindful of overstating certainty and avoid using it when stronger evidence is available.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

thought to have

Replaces "believed" with "thought", emphasizing a cognitive process rather than a general acceptance.

considered to have

Uses "considered" to suggest a more formal or deliberate assessment leading to the belief.

presumed to have

Indicates an assumption made in the absence of concrete proof.

alleged to have

Implies the claim is under investigation or not yet proven, often in legal contexts.

reputed to have

Suggests the belief is based on widespread hearsay or reputation.

understood to have

Replaces "believed" with "understood", indicating a general comprehension or agreement.

suspected to have

Suggests a stronger degree of doubt or concern than "believed".

claimed to have

Implies the statement is asserted by someone, potentially without sufficient evidence.

deemed to have

Uses "deemed" to indicate a formal judgment or decision.

assumed to have

Indicates a belief taken for granted, often without thorough examination.

FAQs

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

You can use "believed to have" to express that something is generally accepted as true, even without definitive proof. For example, "The artifact is "believed to have" originated from ancient Egypt."

What are some alternatives to "believed to have"?

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

Is it correct to say "believed to had" instead of "believed to have"?

No, "believed to had" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is ""believed to have"", where "have" is part of the infinitive form.

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

"Believed to have" indicates a generally held belief without concrete proof, while "known to have" implies that there is solid evidence to support the statement.