has been sighted

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'has been sighted' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to say that something has been seen or observed. For example, "A humpback whale has been sighted off the coast of California."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

But no airplane has been sighted winging into Algeria.

The New York Times

Hello, world".11 14: Al Sharpton has been sighted at the Obama rally in Chicago.

The Economist

In all, it has been sighted in about 30 states, including Hawaii.

The New York Times

Another officer arrives to announce that enemy land has been sighted.

The Guardian - Music

Everybody is on the lookout for ice but so far none has been sighted.

The Guardian

A 13-man New Zealand team has been sighted before but normally only in rugby league.

The Guardian - Sport

Authorities in the Philippines have rejected claims that possible wreckage from MH370 has been sighted on a remote island.

Independent

Another one has been seen in Red Hook, Brooklyn, and one has been sighted near Woodbridge, N.J.

The New York Times

Intelligence sources close to Colin also report that the principal has been sighted on a college walkabout.

The Guardian

By now, it is established in southern Scotland, and has been sighted as far up as the Highlands.

The New Yorker

He has been sighted in sari shops and handbag stores, engaged in debating his spouse's selection with the sons and daughters who trail behind.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been sighted" when reporting factual observations or detections of objects, people, or phenomena. For example, "The rare bird has been sighted in the nature reserve".

Common error

Avoid using "has been sighted" when referring to past events that occurred at a specific time. Instead, use "was sighted". For example, instead of "The ship has been sighted yesterday", say "The ship was sighted yesterday".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been sighted" functions as a passive perfect construction, indicating that an object or entity has been observed or detected at some point in the past, with relevance to the present. According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in written English, indicating successful sightings.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Science

21%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "has been sighted" is a versatile and grammatically sound construction used to report observations and detections. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in written English. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, it carries a neutral to formal tone, suitable for factual reporting. Alternative phrases include "was observed" or "was spotted", offering stylistic variations. Remember to use the correct tense and consider the time frame when reporting sightings. With a high frequency of use and a clear purpose, mastering the usage of "has been sighted" is a valuable asset for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was observed

Replaces the passive voice construction with a simpler past tense, focusing on the act of observing.

was spotted

Informal synonym suggesting a quick or chance sighting.

was detected

Implies a more technical or scientific observation, often using instruments or specialized methods.

was witnessed

Emphasizes the act of observing an event or phenomenon.

was noticed

Suggests a casual or incidental observation, without necessarily implying an active search.

was identified

Suggests a formal process of recognizing or categorizing something.

came into view

Focuses on the emergence of something within the observer's field of vision.

appeared

Indicates that something became visible, often unexpectedly.

has come to light

Indicates discovery of information rather than physical sighting.

has been revealed

Implies a deliberate unveiling or discovery of something previously hidden.

FAQs

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

Use "has been sighted" to indicate that something has been seen or observed. For example, "A polar bear "has been sighted" near the village".

What's a good alternative to "has been sighted"?

Alternatives include "was observed", "was spotted", or "was detected", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "had been sighted" instead of "has been sighted"?

Using "had been sighted" implies that the sighting occurred before another point in the past. For example, "The wreckage had been sighted before the rescue team arrived".

What's the difference between "has been sighted" and "was sighted"?

"Has been sighted" indicates a sighting within a time period leading up to the present, while "was sighted" refers to a specific sighting in the past. For example, "The comet was sighted last night," versus, "The comet "has been sighted" several times this month".