has been much criticized

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been much criticized" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that has been subject to a lot of criticism. For example, "The new government policy has been much criticized."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

This definition of The Times's purpose was Mr. Ochs's own; it has been much criticized, but the criticisms deal usually with the phraseology rather than with its practical interpretation, and the phraseology was simply an emphatic announcement that The Times was not and would not be what the nineties called a yellow newspaper.

The New York Times

Sarkozy has been much criticized for his love of money and gaudiness.

The New York Times - Magazine

He will bring along the company's embattled chief executive, Tony Hayward, who has been much criticized for statements that have been considered insensitive and self-serving.

The New York Times

He was anything but outspoken, however, and his silence frustrated other writers of the time and has been much criticized since.

The New Yorker

The committee has been much criticized for delay in hearings and votes on nominees, which has left some Federal courts with disabling vacancies.

The New York Times

The national government's reliance on judges to enforce the rulings of Spain's constitutional court has been much criticized by those calling for more proactive political engagement.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

Dictionaries have been much criticized for not including a sufficiency of grammatical information.

Britannica

Kinsey's research methods and conclusions have been much criticized, however, and further studies have produced somewhat different and varying results.

Encyclopedia Britannica

What's more, the news media have been much criticized for not effectively getting to the bottom of the candidates' claims and counterclaims during this contentious campaign.

The New York Times

Saudi air strikes have been much criticized for hitting civilians.

Huffington Post

The FBI announced on Tuesday that it would overhaul its system for counting people killed by law enforcement officials, which has been much-criticized for undercounting such deaths because reporting is voluntary.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "has been much criticized", ensure the context clearly identifies who is doing the criticizing and why. This adds depth and credibility to your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "has been much criticized" without specifying the source or basis of the criticism. Statements become weaker without clear attribution.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been much criticized" functions as a passive construction used to indicate that a particular subject has received a significant amount of negative feedback or disapproval. As confirmed by Ludwig, this is a grammatically correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Encyclopedias

12%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has been much criticized" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to denote that a subject has received substantial criticism. Ludwig confirms its validity and usability across various contexts. Predominantly found in News & Media, it also appears in encyclopedias and scientific publications, serving to inform the audience about negative reception and potential controversies. When employing this phrase, ensure the source and reason for the criticism are clearly articulated for added credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has faced considerable criticism

Emphasizes the extent of the criticism received.

has drawn heavy criticism

Highlights the severity and intensity of the criticism.

has been widely condemned

Indicates a broad and public disapproval.

has been heavily scrutinized

Focuses on the detailed and often critical examination.

has met with disapproval

A more formal way of expressing that something has not been well-received.

has been the subject of much debate

Suggests ongoing discussion and disagreement, often implying criticism.

is not without its detractors

Highlights the presence of critics, even if there is also support.

has received a lot of negative feedback

Focuses on the feedback received, emphasizing its negative nature.

has been questioned extensively

Emphasizes that something has been doubted or challenged, implying criticism.

has sparked controversy

Highlights the contentious nature of the subject, often leading to criticism.

FAQs

How can I use "has been much criticized" in a sentence?

You can use "has been much criticized" to indicate that a subject has received considerable negative feedback. For example, "The government's new economic policy "has been much criticized" by economists and the public alike".

What are some alternatives to "has been much criticized"?

Alternatives include "has faced considerable criticism", "has drawn heavy criticism", or "has been widely condemned" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to use "has been heavily criticized" or "has been much criticized"?

"Has been heavily criticized" and "has been much criticized" are largely interchangeable. "Heavily" emphasizes the intensity of the criticism, while "much" focuses on the quantity. Choose the one that best fits the context.

What's the difference between "has been criticized" and "has been much criticized"?

While "has been criticized" indicates that something has received some level of criticism, "has been much criticized" suggests a significantly higher degree or volume of negative feedback.