has been obscured

USAGE SUMMARY

"has been obscured" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when an object, surface, or idea has been made harder to see, understand, or recognize. For example, "The painting's details have been obscured by years of grime."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

His boyhood has been obscured until he is 20.

The New Yorker

The great artist has been obscured by the brilliant caricaturist.

The Economist

(The address has been obscured in the photograph at right).

The New York Times

Much of the larger picture has been obscured by time.

The New York Times - Arts

The relationship between property and morality has been obscured by three elements in our intellectual tradition.

Harvard University

JAYSON WERTH, WASHINGTON Like Strasburg, Werth's season has been obscured by his team's disappointing record.

The New York Times - Sports

The loftiness of "Yes we can" has been obscured by the governing realities of "It's hard".

The New York Times

This view has been obscured by the anti-SALT lobby & others.

The New Yorker

Shields's production has been obscured by a misleading 6-7 record.

The New York Times - Sports

"For too long the truth has been obscured by closed agreements and compromised solutions.

The Guardian

Much about the attack and the associated casualties has been obscured in the fog of war.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "has been obscured", consider specifying what has caused the obscurity to provide a clearer understanding to the reader. For example, "The historical truth has been obscured by propaganda".

Common error

Avoid using "has been obscured" in situations where simpler alternatives like "hidden" or "unclear" would suffice. This can make your writing sound unnecessarily verbose or pretentious.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been obscured" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that something or someone has caused a subject to become unclear or hidden. This construction is commonly used to shift the focus from the actor to the recipient of the action, as exemplified by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Academia

16%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Science

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has been obscured" is a grammatically correct and versatile passive construction used to describe a state of reduced clarity or understanding. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used across various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Academia. When writing, consider using more straightforward alternatives like "has been hidden" in less formal contexts and always specify the cause of obscurity for better clarity. Be aware of the potential for overuse, and make sure the phrase fits the formality of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been concealed

Indicates a deliberate act of hiding something, implying secrecy or intentional withholding of information.

has been shrouded

Suggests something is covered or enveloped, often implying mystery or uncertainty.

has been eclipsed

Implies something has been overshadowed or surpassed in importance by something else.

has been masked

Suggests that something is hidden or disguised, often to conceal its true nature.

has been blurred

Indicates a lack of clarity or distinctness, making something difficult to perceive or understand.

has been suppressed

Implies a forceful prevention of something from being known or expressed.

has been buried

Suggests something has been deliberately forgotten or hidden away.

has been clouded

Implies that something is unclear or confused, often due to external factors.

has been muted

Suggests that something has been softened or reduced in intensity, making it less noticeable.

has been camouflaged

Indicates something has been disguised to blend in with its surroundings, making it difficult to detect.

FAQs

How do I use "has been obscured" in a sentence?

Use "has been obscured" to indicate that something was once clear or visible but is now difficult to see or understand. For example: "The meaning of the poem "has been obscured" by time and translation".

What can I say instead of "has been obscured"?

You can use alternatives like "has been concealed", "has been eclipsed", or "has been blurred" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "has been obscured" or "was obscured"?

"Has been obscured" implies a continuing state resulting from a past action, while "was obscured" simply describes a past event. The choice depends on whether the obscurity persists.

What's the difference between "has been obscured" and "is obscure"?

"Has been obscured" indicates that something was once clear but is no longer so, whereas "is obscure" means something is inherently unclear or difficult to understand. For example, "The details "are obscure"" implies inherent ambiguity, while "the details "have been obscured"" suggests they were once known.