has been touched

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been touched" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has come into contact with another object or has been affected in some way. Example: "The painting has been touched by many visitors, leaving fingerprints on the glass."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

A nerve has been touched.

The New Yorker

"He has been touched".

The New York Times - Style

Chiocchio has been touched by it, too.

The New Yorker

The site has been touched by serendipity.

The New York Times

"Anything that has been touched by Niemeyer is historically important".

The New York Times - Arts

"Everyone has been touched by illness," she said.

The New York Times - Arts

Everybody in this city has been touched by death.

The Guardian

Although there are signs of looting everywhere, almost none of the buildings has been touched.

The Economist

"Every one of us has been touched by this attack on your beloved city," he said.

The New Yorker

SAC has been touched by the government's widespread crackdown into insider trading at hedge funds.

The New York Times - Sports

Almost every family in Fort Hancock has been touched in some way by the violence.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been touched" when you want to convey that something has been affected or influenced by an external factor, whether physically, emotionally, or conceptually. Ensure the context makes it clear what or who is doing the touching or influencing.

Common error

Avoid using "has been touched" when an active voice construction would be clearer and more direct. Overuse of the passive voice can make your writing sound weak or vague. For example, instead of "The cake has been touched by someone", consider "Someone touched the cake" if the actor is important.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been touched" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the subject has received an action. This construction often emphasizes the receiver of the action rather than the actor, as seen in Ludwig AI examples like "Everyone "has been touched" by illness."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has been touched" is a common and grammatically correct passive voice construction used to describe how something has been affected or influenced. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for various contexts, particularly in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business writing. When using this phrase, it's important to consider whether the passive voice is the most effective choice and to avoid overuse. Alternatives like "has been affected" or "has been influenced" can provide more clarity depending on the specific meaning you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been affected

Replaces "touched" with a broader term implying influence or impact.

has been influenced

Emphasizes the impact or effect on something or someone.

has been impacted

Similar to "affected", but often implies a more significant or forceful effect.

has been reached

Suggests making contact with something or someone.

has been altered

Focuses on the change or modification resulting from contact or influence.

has been handled

Implies physical contact or manipulation.

has been experienced

Highlights the act of undergoing a particular event or sensation.

has been exposed to

Indicates contact with a specific substance or situation.

has undergone

Focuses on the process or experience of being subjected to something.

has come into contact with

A more literal expression of physical contact.

FAQs

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

The phrase "has been touched" indicates that something has experienced contact or influence. For instance, "Every aspect of modern society "has been touched" by economic thought."

What are some alternatives to "has been touched"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "has been affected", "has been influenced", or "has been impacted".

Is it better to use the active or passive voice with "has been touched"?

The passive voice is appropriate when the actor is unknown or less important than the recipient of the action. However, the active voice can be more direct and clearer if the actor is known and relevant. For example, instead of "The painting has been touched by many visitors", using the active voice, you can say "Many visitors touched the painting."

What does it mean when something "has been touched" emotionally?

When something ""has been touched"" emotionally, it means it has evoked a feeling of sympathy, gratitude, or inspiration. For example, "She "has been touched" by the bigheartedness of the Tabernacle's black members."