can be believing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "can be believing" is not standard in written English and may sound awkward.
It could be used in a context where you are discussing the potential for someone to hold a belief, but it is not commonly used. Example: "In certain situations, people can be believing in things that seem irrational."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Just as seeing can be believing, so can our pre-existing ideas and beliefs influence what we see.

F1000Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Who, if anyone, can be believed?

Independent

Which sources can be believed?

The Washington Post

But whose version can be believed?

The Guardian - Film

Doubt abounds as to what can be believed.

Cornell University

I can be believed and it's not right".

The Guardian

So it can be believed in, for a while.

The New York Times

Maybe Mr. Dolle's assurances can be believed.

The New York Times

Five stars, if my guests can be believed.

The New York Times - Food

On Tuesday, if the polls can be believed, he could get there.

The New York Times

It leaves the consumer in a quandary: what part of the label can be believed?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using alternative phrasings like "may believe" or "could believe" to express the intended meaning with greater clarity and grammatical correctness. These alternatives are more standard in English.

Common error

Avoid using "can be believing" in formal writing. It sounds unusual and might confuse readers. Opt for simpler and more direct expressions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "can be believing" functions primarily as a verbal phrase aiming to express a potential or ongoing state of believing. However, as noted by Ludwig AI, this phrasing is not standard and can sound awkward. It suggests a continuous action of believing, similar to a present continuous tense, but applied to the verb "believe".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

33%

Academia

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "can be believing" might appear in various contexts, its usage is infrequent and considered grammatically questionable by Ludwig AI. Standard English offers clearer and more accepted alternatives such as ""may believe"", "might believe", or "could believe". These options not only improve grammatical correctness but also enhance the clarity and impact of your writing. When aiming for formal or professional communication, it's advisable to steer clear of "can be believing" and opt for its more conventional counterparts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

may believe

Replaces "can be" with "may", indicating possibility rather than a continuous state.

might believe

Similar to "may believe", suggesting a degree of uncertainty.

could believe

Indicates a potential for belief under certain circumstances.

can hold beliefs

Rephrases the idea to focus on the capacity to have beliefs.

is capable of believing

Emphasizes the ability to believe.

can potentially believe

Adds emphasis on the possibility of belief.

can start believing

Focuses on the beginning of the process of believing.

can come to believe

Suggests a gradual development of belief.

can grow to believe

Similar to "can come to believe", implying a progression.

has the capacity to believe

Highlights the inherent ability to hold a belief.

FAQs

How can I use "can be believing" correctly in a sentence?

While not a standard phrase, you might rephrase it to "can hold beliefs" or "may believe" depending on the context. For example, instead of "people can be believing irrational things", use "people "may believe" irrational things".

What can I say instead of "can be believing"?

You can use alternatives like ""may believe"", "might believe", or "could believe" depending on the context. These are grammatically more common.

Which is correct, "can be believing" or "may believe"?

"May believe" is generally preferred and more grammatically sound compared to the less common and somewhat awkward "can be believing".

What's the difference between "can be believing" and "can believe"?

"Can believe" implies the ability to believe, whereas "can be believing" suggests a state of actively believing something, though it's not a conventional phrasing. To describe a potential or possible belief, ""may believe"" is usually a better choice.