has been overheard

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been overheard" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to something that someone has heard without the speaker's knowledge, often implying that the information is not meant to be shared. Example: "During the meeting, it has been overheard that there may be changes to the project timeline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

He has been overheard talking to them.

The Guardian - Arts

"It's all hell, it's agony," she has been overheard telling staff members about the quality of their work, according to one of them.

The New York Times

While Mr. King once said his ambition was for monetary policy to be boring, Mr. Carney has been overheard using phrases like "monetary activism" and "escape velocity".

The New York Times

Ed Miliband has been overheard joking to party MPs that Jeremy Corbyn is an even worse Labour leader than he was.

Independent

Greg's journey to that point consists largely of being buffeted, first by his girlfriend, Steph (Sian Brooke), whose face he described as "regular" in an offhand drunken comment that has been overheard by Steph's good friend Carly (Billie Piper).

The New York Times - Arts

Cash is expecting a baby in August, but yesterday a Sunday newspaper reported the senior party official in charge of helping to get Cash elected has been overheard saying the sight of a pregnant woman's stomach "made him sick".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Bankers have been overheard estimating Google's value at $15 billion or more.

The Economist

If he had been overheard, he would have been dismissed and probably jailed as well.

The New York Times

Even then, the pederasts whose counting had been overheard by Engels were making steady progress.

The Guardian - Books

In recent weeks Johnson had been overheard as saying that he was not an "outer".

The Guardian

We had been overheard discussing ending the festival because of the problems.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When employing "has been overheard", consider the perspective of the speaker and the listener to create nuanced character dynamics in your narrative.

Common error

Avoid using "has been overheard" excessively, as too much passive voice can make your writing sound indirect and weaken the impact of your statements. Balance it with active voice constructs for more clarity and engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been overheard" functions as a passive perfect construction, indicating that an action (being overheard) has been completed at some point in the past and has relevance to the present. Ludwig AI confirms its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has been overheard" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe information gained through indirect listening. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. While not exceedingly common, it appears most frequently in news and media, lending a neutral to slightly formal tone. When using the phrase, consider the subtle implication of secrecy or unintentional disclosure. Keep in mind that overuse of the passive voice may weaken your writing, so use this construction judiciously.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was overheard

Removes the auxiliary verb 'has been' to create a simple past passive.

was heard

Simplifies the passive perfect construction to a simple past passive.

was caught saying

Indicates that someone was heard expressing something, possibly unintentionally.

it was heard that

Rephrases the sentence to highlight the act of hearing.

was noticed saying

Emphasizes that the act of speaking was observed.

it is rumored that

Shifts focus to the speculative nature of the information.

it came to light that

Highlights the revelation of information that was previously unknown.

became known

Focuses on the general dissemination of information.

was revealed

Emphasizes the unveiling of information.

was disclosed

Highlights the act of making information public.

FAQs

What does "has been overheard" mean?

The phrase "has been overheard" means that something said by someone was heard by another person, often without the speaker's knowledge or intention. It suggests the information was incidentally discovered.

What's the difference between "has been heard" and "has been overheard"?

"Has been heard" simply means something was perceived audibly. "Has been overheard" implies the speaker was unaware of the listener, suggesting the information was not intended for them.

How can I use "has been overheard" in a sentence?

You can use "has been overheard" to describe a situation where someone unintentionally heard a conversation or remark. For example: "It has been overheard that the company is planning layoffs."

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

Alternatives include "was heard", "was overheard", or "caught saying" depending on the specific context and nuance you wish to convey.