have been battled

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have been battled" is not correct in standard written English.
It is not a commonly used expression and may confuse readers. A more appropriate phrase would be "have battled" or "have been fighting." Example: "The two teams have battled fiercely for the championship title."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

We're not a team that's been around the playoffs a lot, but we have been battled tested this year".

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Recently they have been battling water rats in their basement.

The New York Times

Hedgers and anti-hedgers have been battling for years.

The New York Times

The Williams sisters have been battling injuries lately.

The New York Times - Sports

Mr. Icahn and Nabisco have been battling for years.

The New York Times

The White House may have been battling the last energy crisis.

The New York Times

But instead of fighting graft, the authorities have been battling environmentalists and concerned residents.

The Economist

Ever since, they have been battling the foreign troops who came later.

The Economist

The two sides have been battling over requests for documents and the pace of discovery.

The New York Times

The city and union have been battling over the use of the Teacher Data Reports.

The New York Times

The Colts' top running backs, Joseph Addai and Donald Brown, have been battling injuries for most of the season.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of using the awkward phrase "have been battled", opt for more common and grammatically correct alternatives such as "have fought", "have been fighting", or "have struggled" to clearly convey the intended meaning of conflict or opposition. This ensures clarity and avoids confusing your audience.

Common error

Avoid using "have been battled" as it sounds like a passive construction where something receives the action of battling. Active constructions like "have fought" are clearer and more direct, clearly indicating who or what is doing the battling.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been battled" functions as a passive construction, although grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI indicates it's not standard English. In the given example, it attempts to describe a state of being subjected to conflict, but fails to do so effectively.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "have been battled" is grammatically incorrect and not recommended for use in standard English. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment, advising against its use due to its uncommon and confusing nature. Better alternatives to convey the intended meaning of conflict or opposition include "have fought", "have been fighting", or "have struggled". While some instances of the phrase appear in news media, its grammatical incorrectness undermines its effectiveness in communication. Opting for clearer, more conventional phrasing ensures better clarity and credibility in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have fought

This is a direct and grammatically sound replacement, focusing on the action of fighting.

have been fighting

This alternative uses the continuous tense to describe an ongoing conflict or struggle.

have contended

This alternative is a formal synonym suggesting a competitive struggle.

have struggled

This alternative emphasizes the difficulty and effort involved in the conflict.

have combatted

This alternative is a more formal synonym for fought, suggesting a direct confrontation.

have clashed

This alternative suggests a brief but intense confrontation.

have opposed

This alternative emphasizes resistance or standing against something.

have confronted

This alternative highlights a direct and often challenging encounter.

have waged war

This alternative intensifies the struggle to a formal declaration of conflict.

have been at war

This suggests a prolonged and intense period of conflict.

FAQs

What is a better alternative to "have been battled"?

More appropriate alternatives include "have fought", "have been fighting", or "have struggled", depending on the specific context you want to convey.

Is "have been battled" grammatically correct?

No, "have been battled" is not grammatically correct in standard English. It's an uncommon construction that can confuse readers. It's better to use active voice or more common passive forms like "have been fought".

How can I use "have fought" in a sentence instead of "have been battled"?

Instead of saying "They have been battled by many opponents", you can say "They have fought many opponents" to clearly indicate their active role in the conflict.

What's the difference between "have been battled" and "have been fighting"?

"Have been fighting" implies an ongoing action of engaging in a struggle or conflict, whereas "have been battled" is an incorrect construction. The correct alternative is to say "have been fighting" to emphasize continuous engagement in conflict.