believes to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "believes to" is not correct and usable in written English.
It is typically a misuse of the verb "believe," which should be followed by "that" or an object. Example: "She believes that he will succeed."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

It is wrong, he believes, to dismiss this as sentimentality.

The Guardian - Film

He bemoans what he believes to be the results.

The New York Times

A good argument, which Coe believes to be true.

The Guardian - Books

Bertram is blindfolded for his coital encounter with his wife (whom he believes to be Diana).

The New York Times

Should a lawyer continue to defend a client whom she believes to be lying?

The New York Times

The commission left it up to Congress to fix whatever ratio it believes to be fair.

The New York Times

Less so, the United manager believes, to the people he is helping out.

Independent

In the year to October the FTC identified what it believes to be 28 such settlements.

The Economist

Gaiman, in an article for, shares what he believes to be the definitive rules for writing.

Britannica

He later left this job, due, Inci believes, to interference by powerful political interests.

The New Yorker

A woman has an old refrigerator that she believes to be an energy guzzler.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Replace "believes to" with grammatically sound alternatives like "believes that", "thinks", or "is convinced" to ensure clarity and correctness.

Common error

Avoid omitting the conjunction "that" after "believes". Saying "He believes to be true" is grammatically incorrect; the correct form is "He believes that it is true."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "believes to" functions as an incomplete verb phrase, typically intended to express someone's conviction or opinion. However, it lacks the necessary grammatical structure to convey this meaning correctly. Ludwig's AI indicates that it is not grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Science

23%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "believes to" appears frequently in various sources, it is grammatically incorrect. As indicated by Ludwig, the correct usage involves adding "that" after "believes" to properly introduce the content of the belief. Despite its common occurrence, particularly in News & Media and Science, it's essential to use grammatically sound alternatives such as ""believes that"", "thinks", or "is convinced" to maintain clarity and correctness in writing. Ignoring this grammatical rule detracts from the credibility of the content.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

believes that

Adds the necessary conjunction "that" to form a grammatically correct clause expressing belief.

thinks that

Replaces "believes" with "thinks", offering a more casual synonym while maintaining grammatical correctness.

is convinced that

Emphasizes the strength of the belief using "convinced", while using the necessary "that" conjunction.

holds the opinion that

Provides a more formal and explicit way of stating a belief or opinion.

maintains that

Suggests a sustained or persistent belief, often in the face of opposition.

assumes that

Implies a belief based on less evidence than "believes", suggesting a presumption.

presumes that

Similar to "assumes that", indicating a belief taken for granted without proof.

considers that

Suggests a belief formed after some consideration or thought.

posits that

Introduces a formal or academic way of presenting a belief as a proposition.

deems that

Indicates a formal judgment or assessment leading to a belief.

FAQs

How to correctly use "believes" in a sentence?

The verb "believes" typically requires a "that" clause to introduce the content of the belief. For instance, instead of saying "He believes to be correct", you should say "He "believes that" he is correct".

What's the difference between "believes to be" and "believes that is"?

"Believes to be" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is ""believes that" is". For example, "She believes that the rumor is true".

Is "believes to" ever correct in English?

No, "believes to" is not a correct grammatical construction in standard English. It's a misuse of the verb "believe". Use ""believes that"" instead.

What can I say instead of "believes to be"?

You can use alternatives like "thinks is", "considers to be", or "deems to be", depending on the intended nuance and context. However, avoid using "believes to be" as it is grammatically incorrect.