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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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has been stumbled

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been stumbled" is not correct in standard English usage.
It is not typically used because "stumble" is an intransitive verb and does not take a direct object in this form. Example: "He has stumbled upon a great opportunity."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

My most mortifying secret has been stumbled upon.

News & Media

The Times

The piece is a series of lyrical statements and questions that Walker asked herself: "I'm not an Other in some eyes / I think / and yet a black woman-artist-philosopher has a / calling card to announce when she has been stumbled upon / injured, ignored by the elite / over whom she strives to soar".

News & Media

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

This is what happens: Ms. Cattrall, portraying the has-been, self-medicating film goddess Alexandra Del Lago, has been stumbling around a hotel room in a panic, hell bent on getting out of the unfriendly Florida town where she has washed up.

News & Media

The New York Times

The National Party has been stumbling badly.

News & Media

The New York Times

Mr. Cain has been stumbling for two weeks.

News & Media

The New York Times

The current round has been stumbling along since November 2001.

News & Media

The Guardian

In the Middle East as in Central Asia, intervention has been painful and progress has been stumbling.

News & Media

The Economist

The stock market, which had climbed so steadily for so long, has been stumbling.

News & Media

The New York Times

The European Union has been stumbling since its constitution was rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005.

News & Media

The Economist

The Hobby Lobby verdict has reignited the issue, and the Brown campaign's reaction has been stumbling.

News & Media

The Guardian

The government has been stumbling from Budget blunder via doctors' strike and Cabinet resignation to academies U-turn.

Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "has been stumbled" in formal writing. Opt for grammatically correct alternatives such as "has been discovered" or "was stumbled upon".

Common error

Avoid using "has been stumbled" when you intend to express that someone or something accidentally found something. It's better to rephrase actively, such as "someone stumbled upon it", or passively with correct grammar, like "it was stumbled upon".

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

89%

Authority and reliability

1.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been stumbled" attempts to function as a passive construction, but Ludwig AI indicates this is grammatically incorrect. In correct usage, "stumble" often requires a preposition like "upon" to form a transitive verb phrase. The intended function is typically to describe an accidental finding or encounter.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "has been stumbled" may appear in some contexts, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. Correct alternatives like "has been discovered" or "was stumbled upon" should be preferred to accurately convey the intended meaning of an accidental discovery or encounter. The limited examples available highlight its rarity and potential for misinterpretation, making it best to avoid this phrase in favor of clearer, more standard English.

FAQs

What is a correct alternative to "has been stumbled"?

More grammatically sound alternatives include "has been discovered", "was stumbled upon", or "has been encountered" depending on the context.

Is "has been stumbled" grammatically correct?

According to Ludwig AI, the phrase "has been stumbled" is not grammatically correct in standard English. The verb "stumble" in this context typically requires a preposition such as "upon".

How can I use "stumble" correctly in a passive construction?

You can use "stumble" correctly in a passive construction by using the phrase "was stumbled upon", as in "The solution was stumbled upon during the research".

When is it appropriate to use "stumbled upon"?

"Stumbled upon" is appropriate when describing an accidental or unexpected discovery. For example, "I "stumbled upon" a great restaurant while exploring the city".

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Source & Trust

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Authority and reliability

1.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: