given to be

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "given to be" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It is not commonly used and may not convey a clear meaning without additional context. Example: "The results were given to be accurate, but further testing is needed."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Yentob described the editorial freedom as "the scope we were given to be ourselves".

The Guardian

I have to accept it, and enjoy the time we have been given to be together – with the boys".

The Guardian

Since armour was heavy and quarter usually given (to be followed by the payment of ransom), casualties among the chivalry were often light.

Encyclopedia Britannica

He admits, in a written statement to Guardian Money, that he was naive, signing an agreement "in good faith, without understanding the documentation fully, but believing what I was given to be in my best interest".

The Guardian - Money

One senior accountant said: 'If the loan had been made via the blind trust you would normally expect the address given to be that of the trustee, not the home address of the beneficiary.

The Guardian

Klein seems to be a given to be a Heisman finalist, but any shot at winning the award almost certainly calls for a huge game against a shaky Texas defense.

The New York Times

"This first step led to the next, for in the course of a few days notice of a special meeting was given, to be held in the Temperance Hall (the Cockpit) the following Saturday night, September 1, at which this subject was warmly discussed.

The Guardian

And so Zarriello paints love's enormity: deep enough to sink in, to feed and water us, to fill our lungs and our minds, a beast, a thing that conjures desire and brings us grief, and that is there, too, to be given, to be presented whole to another person.

The Guardian - Music

In 1963, Yadin addressed an IDF armoured corps graduation ceremony: "When Napoleon stood among his troops next to the pyramids of Egypt, he declared: 'Four thousand years of history look down upon you.' But what would he not have given to be able to say to his men: 'Four thousand years of your own history look down upon you.'" Four thousand years of history.

The Guardian

The main reasons for grain yield decreases are given to be genotype and inappropriate water supply.

European Journal of Agronomy

The relative uncertainty of transmittivity of a Lambda 950 spectrophotometer is given to be 0.1%.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Opt for clearer and more concise alternatives like "considered to be" or "regarded as" to enhance readability and avoid passive voice constructions when possible.

Common error

Avoid constructing sentences using "given to be" when a more direct, active voice would make the sentence clearer and more impactful. For instance, instead of "The information was given to be accurate", use "The information was considered accurate."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "given to be" functions as a passive construction, typically used to describe how something is presented, understood, or considered. It often introduces a state or condition that is attributed to a subject. Ludwig's examples show the usage of this phrase across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

34%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "given to be" is frequently used, it is often considered grammatically awkward. Ludwig indicates that opting for alternatives like "considered to be" or "regarded as" can improve clarity and conciseness. Its primary function is to denote an assigned or perceived state, and it appears most commonly in scientific and news contexts. Therefore, writers should carefully consider whether a more direct and active construction would better serve their communicative purpose.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

considered to be

Replaces the passive voice construction with a more direct expression of assessment or opinion.

regarded as

Similar to 'considered to be', but emphasizes the perspective from which something is viewed.

deemed to be

Suggests a more formal or official judgment than "given to be".

presumed to be

Implies an assumption or belief about the state of something.

understood to be

Indicates a general agreement or common knowledge about something's nature.

thought to be

Suggests a more casual or speculative assessment.

reported to be

Implies that information comes from a specific source or report.

believed to be

Expresses a strong conviction or faith about something.

defined as

Offers a precise, often technical, clarification of something's essential characteristics.

meant to be

Conveys a sense of destiny or inevitability, implying something is preordained.

FAQs

What does "given to be" mean?

"Given to be" suggests something is presented or understood in a particular way. However, it's often better to use clearer alternatives such as "considered to be" or "regarded as".

Is "given to be" grammatically correct?

While not strictly incorrect, "given to be" can sound awkward. Using phrases like "deemed to be" or "understood to be" often results in a more polished sentence.

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

While you can construct sentences like "The results were given to be accurate", it's more effective to say "The results were "considered accurate"" or "The results were "deemed accurate"".

What are some alternatives to "given to be"?

Depending on the context, you can replace "given to be" with phrases such as "regarded as", "presumed to be", or "reported to be". The best choice will depend on the specific meaning you want to convey.