believes to be

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "believes to be" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is often used to express someone's personal belief or opinion about something. Example: "John believes his new boss to be a fair and competent leader."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

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

It conflicts with everything the left believes to be progressive.

The Guardian

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

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

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

The New York Times

Sanford is still in jail, which Smothers believes to be a miscarriage of justice.

The New Yorker

Aljaz sees his pipe-smoking great-grandmother fleeing what she believes to be an evil spirit.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "believes to be" to express someone's subjective assessment or opinion, especially when the truth is uncertain or debatable.

Common error

In formal or academic writing, avoid overusing "believes to be" when a more direct assertion of fact is appropriate. If the information is well-supported, state it directly rather than framing it as someone's belief.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "believes to be" functions as a verb phrase indicating a subjective assessment or opinion held by someone. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a grammatically sound construction. It often introduces an assertion that may not be universally accepted as fact.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Encyclopedias

15%

Science

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

6%

Academia

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "believes to be" is a versatile phrase used to attribute a belief or opinion to someone. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and commonly used, particularly in news and media, encyclopedias, and science contexts. While versatile, be mindful of overuse in highly formal writing and consider stronger assertions if the information is well-supported. Alternative phrases such as "considers to be" or "regards as" can provide nuanced variations. When you're looking to attribute opinion rather than fact, "believes to be" is a solid choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

considers to be

Replaces "believes" with "considers", emphasizing a thoughtful assessment.

regards as

Focuses on how someone views or thinks about something.

perceives as

Highlights the individual's perception or understanding.

deems to be

Implies a formal judgment or assessment.

understands to be

Emphasizes comprehension and interpretation.

views as

Highlights a specific viewpoint or perspective.

holds to be

Suggests a firm conviction or long-held belief.

conceives as

Focuses on how someone imagines or envisions something.

presumes to be

Indicates an assumption or supposition.

takes for

Indicates a simple acceptance of something as being a certain way.

FAQs

How can I use "believes to be" in a sentence?

You can use "believes to be" to express someone's subjective opinion or assessment. For example, "The analyst "believes to be" a promising investment."

What phrases can I use instead of "believes to be"?

Alternatives include "considers to be", "regards as", or "perceives as", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more formal to say "believes to be" or "considers to be"?

"Considers to be" is generally perceived as slightly more formal than "believes to be", suggesting a more deliberate assessment.

What is the difference between "believes to be" and "knows to be"?

"Believes to be" indicates an opinion or assumption, whereas "knows to be" suggests certainty and factual knowledge.