contended to be

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "contended to be" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct expression is "contended that" or "contended to be true." Example: "The scientist contended that her findings would change the way we understand climate change."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

The right-hander Jeremy Hefner, who would have contended to be a long reliever, could take the rotation place of Johan Santana, who might start the year on the disabled list.

The New York Times - Sports

The presence on the jury of oligarchs businessmen widely contended to be the ruling force in Russia after the fall of the Soviet Union incurred skepticism regarding the fairness of the selection process.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Although it is not necessary for us to categorise the treatment reported, it could readily be contended to be at the very least cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment by the United States authorities.

The Guardian

In either case, they perform the function of the articulation of the interests and aspirations of a substantial segment of the citizenry, usually in ways contended to be promotive of the national weal".

The New Yorker

"Although it is not necessary for us to categorize the treatment reported, it could readily be contended to be at the very least cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment by the United States authorities," the document posted on the Foreign Office Web site said.

The New York Times

A seven-paragraph summary of the contested information was made public, including an assessment by the British authorities that Mr. Mohamed's treatment "could readily be contended to be at the very least cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment by the United States authorities".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Rather than cynically choosing jokes that play to the lowest common denominator, Mr. Leno has a deep desire, Mr. Carter contends, to "be a comic for every audience," like Bob Hope.

The New York Times - Books

"At the crux of these kinds of claims is getting information that you contend to be false," Michael R. Young, a lawyer at Willkie Farr & Gallagher, told The Times.

The New York Times

Aberdeen and Dundee are among the list of cities contending to be the UK City of Culture in 2017.

BBC

Brown is the only living human, a growing consensus contends, to be cured.

Science Magazine

Such a low performance is because bounding only allows the vehicles within a certain area to contend to be a relay; the rest of the vehicles never attempt to rebroadcast the message.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for precision, replace "contended to be" with more accurate alternatives like "argued to be", "claimed to be", or "asserted to be" to reflect the intended nuance.

Common error

Avoid using "contended to be" in constructions where a more direct and active voice would improve clarity and impact. Instead of "The results were contended to be significant", try "Researchers contended that the results were significant."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "contended to be" functions as part of a verb phrase, usually indicating an assertion or claim about something's nature or status. However, it's often considered grammatically weak and less precise than alternatives. As Ludwig AI notes, it is not a correct expression.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

News & Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "contended to be" appears in various sources, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect and less precise than alternative formulations. Ludwig AI indicates that "contended that" or "contended to be true" is the correct form. It is best to use stronger and clearer options such as "argued to be", "claimed to be", or "asserted to be" to enhance the clarity and impact of your writing. While it appears in news, scientific texts and encyclopedias, it is a good idea to explore other alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

argued to be

Replaces "contended" with "argued", emphasizing a reasoned defense or presentation of evidence.

claimed to be

Substitutes "contended" with "claimed", suggesting an assertion that may be questioned or unproven.

asserted to be

Replaces "contended" with "asserted", highlighting a confident and forceful declaration.

held to be

Substitutes "contended" with "held", emphasizing a belief or opinion that is maintained.

deemed to be

Replaces "contended" with "deemed", indicating a formal judgment or assessment.

believed to be

Replaces "contended" with "believed", focusing on a personal conviction or general acceptance.

considered to be

Replaces "contended" with "considered", emphasizing a thoughtful evaluation or opinion.

purported to be

Substitutes "contended" with "purported", suggesting that something is presented as true but may not be.

professed to be

Replaces "contended" with "professed", highlighting a public declaration or avowal.

presumed to be

Substitutes "contended" with "presumed", indicating an assumption based on probability or likelihood.

FAQs

What does "contended to be" mean?

The phrase "contended to be" suggests that something has been argued or asserted to have a particular quality or characteristic. However, it's often more precise to use alternatives like "argued to be" or "claimed to be".

Is "contended to be" grammatically correct?

While examples of "contended to be" exist, standard English grammar typically favors "contended that" or more direct alternatives. Therefore, it's advisable to use other options for improved clarity and correctness.

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

You can use alternatives such as "argued to be", "claimed to be", "asserted to be", or "believed to be", depending on the specific context and desired emphasis.

How do I use "contend" correctly in a sentence?

Typically, "contend" is followed by "that" to introduce a clause: "The scientist contended that the experiment proved the hypothesis." You can also use "contend with" to indicate dealing with a challenge: "The team had to contend with numerous obstacles."