have been believed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have been believed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has been accepted as true or valid over a period of time, often in a passive construction. Example: "The theories proposed by the scientist have been believed by many in the academic community for decades."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She doesn't seem to have been believed.

The Guardian - Opinion

Yet such disclosures would undoubtedly not have been believed.

The New York Times - Magazine

And, as Ted's sister, I wouldn't have been believed".

The New Yorker

Epidermal Langerhans cells (LCs) have been believed to function as professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs).

Journal of Dermatological Science

"This suggested that they're not truly blind as would have been believed before," said Brown.

The Guardian

The ruling stated that the surveillance was "not proportionate and could not reasonably have been believed to be proportionate".

The Guardian

Tail paint has been successful in identifying estrus, but behaviors such a licking or rubbing have been believed to remove the paint and lead to false-positives.

International Journal of Veterinary Science and Medicine

Impurities in Czochralski silicon (Cz-Si) used for ultra large-scaled-integrated (ULSI) circuits have been believed to deteriorate the performance of devices.

Journal of Crystal Growth

Two-dimensional (2D) materials have been believed to be one of the most important classes of materials due to their plentiful unusual properties.

Surface and Coatings Technology

In the minds of mankind they have been leagued with witches and malignant evil spirits, or even have been believed to personify the Evil One.

The New Yorker

Begomoviruses including TYLCV have been believed to be inoculated by only whitefly-mediated transmission and artificial inoculation with an infectious clone27.

Nature

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have been believed" when indicating that a concept or idea has gained acceptance or credibility over time. Ensure the context clearly shows who held the belief and why.

Common error

Avoid using "have been believed" without specifying who held the belief. Unclear attribution can weaken the statement and make it seem unsubstantiated.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been believed" functions as a passive construction, indicating that a belief was held or accepted by a group of people over a period of time. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable, as demonstrated in numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

44%

Academia

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "have been believed" is a common and grammatically sound way to indicate a belief that was held over time. Ludwig AI shows that the expression is widely used in both scientific and news contexts, with occasional appearances in academic writing. It is important to be aware of potential misuse such as failing to clarify who held the belief. Alternatives such as ""have been considered"" or ""have been thought"" can be used to express similar meanings with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have been considered

Changes the verb to 'considered', implying a more thoughtful or deliberate evaluation.

have been thought

Replaces 'believed' with 'thought', suggesting a less firm conviction or more speculative idea.

have been regarded

Uses 'regarded' to indicate how something is viewed or esteemed by others.

have been assumed

Employs 'assumed' to suggest a presumption made without concrete evidence.

were once believed

Adds 'once' to emphasize that the belief is no longer current.

have been understood

Substitutes 'believed' with 'understood', implying comprehension or agreement.

have been accepted

Uses 'accepted' to indicate a general agreement or approval.

were traditionally believed

Highlights the historical or customary nature of the belief.

have been perceived

Replaces 'believed' with 'perceived', indicating a subjective interpretation.

have come to be believed

Adds 'come to be' to show a gradual process of acceptance over time.

FAQs

How can I use "have been believed" in a sentence?

Use "have been believed" to express that something was accepted as true over a period, often before being disproven or re-evaluated. For example, "It have been believed that the Earth was flat until scientific evidence proved otherwise."

What's a good alternative to "have been believed"?

Alternatives include "have been considered", "have been thought", or "have been regarded", depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

Is it correct to say "was believed" instead of "have been believed"?

Both are correct, but "was believed" usually refers to a belief held at a specific point in the past, while "have been believed" implies a belief held over a longer duration or period leading up to the present.

What is the difference between "have been believed" and "is believed"?

"Is believed" suggests a current belief, while "have been believed" indicates a belief that was held in the past and may or may not be currently held. The phrase "is believed" suggests a more immediate or present-day perspective on the belief.