has been traced

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been traced" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that something has been followed or tracked to a specific source or origin in the past. Example: "The origins of the ancient artifact have been traced back to a small village in Italy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The history of varicose vein surgery has been traced.

Annals of Vascular Surgery

Its evolution has been traced through limited paleontological data.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The Gillibrand name has been traced back to medieval England.

The New York Times

His family has been traced back to the Long Island area going back 300 years.

The New York Times

It has been traced at depth across the eastern and southern fringes of the interior platform.

Encyclopedia Britannica

A parallel sequence has been traced in paintings from the Kimberly region, to the west.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It has been traced as far north as the latitude of Cape Hatteras.

The New Yorker

The outbreak, which has been traced to a single egg producer, has resulted in 11 hospitalizations.

The Washington Post

Pigeon racing originated in Europe and has been traced back as far as the Roman Empire.

The New York Times

The name of this white-faced breed has been traced back to the 13th century.

The New York Times

Fentanyl manufactured in clandestine labs has been traced to Mexico and China, according to the DEA.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "has been traced", ensure that the subject is something that can logically have a traceable origin, such as a disease outbreak, a family lineage, or the etymology of a word.

Common error

Avoid overuse of the passive voice with "has been traced". Active voice often provides a clearer and more direct statement. For example, instead of "The error has been traced to a faulty wire", consider "Investigators traced the error to a faulty wire."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been traced" typically functions as part of the passive voice construction of a verb, indicating that the subject's origin or pathway has been discovered. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. Examples in Ludwig illustrate its application across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

29%

Encyclopedias

16%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Academia

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "has been traced" is a versatile expression used to denote that the origin, source, or path of something has been successfully discovered through investigation. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and highlights its frequent usage across diverse contexts, spanning from news reports to scientific publications. The phrase's passive voice often lends a formal tone, making it suitable for objective reporting. Predominantly found in “News & Media”, “Science” and “Encyclopedias”, it conveys a sense of definitive discovery, indicating that a connection or origin has been firmly established. Remember to use it when you want to emphasize the discovery of origins and paths in a clear, verifiable manner.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been tracked down

Replaces "traced" with "tracked down", emphasizing the effort to find the origin.

has been followed back

Replaces "traced" with "followed back", focusing on the act of following a path to its source.

has been linked to

Changes the verb to "linked", highlighting a connection rather than a path.

has been attributed to

Shifts the focus to assigning a cause or origin.

has been discovered to originate from

Adds more detail to the sentence, specifying that the origin has been discovered.

has been ascertained to stem from

Uses more formal vocabulary to indicate the determination of an origin.

has been historically associated with

Specifies a historical association, rather than a direct tracing.

its roots can be found in

Uses a metaphorical expression to indicate the origin.

the source of which has been identified as

Breaks up the phrase and specifies the identification of a source.

the etymology of which suggests

Focuses specifically on the etymological origin of a word or concept.

FAQs

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

The phrase "has been traced" is used to indicate that the origin or path of something has been discovered or followed back to its source. For example, "The outbreak "has been traced" to contaminated food."

What are some alternatives to saying "has been traced"?

Some alternatives to "has been traced" include "has been linked to", "has been tracked down", or "has been attributed to". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it better to use "has been traced" or "was traced"?

"Has been traced" implies that the tracing occurred in the past and has relevance to the present. "Was traced" simply indicates that the tracing happened at a specific time in the past. The choice depends on whether the present relevance is important.

What does it mean when something "has been traced back"?

When something "has been traced back", it means its origins have been followed to a particular point in time or a specific source. This implies a process of investigation or research to determine the starting point or cause.