have been cut

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'have been cut' is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used in the past perfect tense to describe actions or events that happened before a certain point in the past. For example: "The budget for the project had already been cut before we realized there were additional costs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Work hours have been cut.

The New York Times

Services have been cut drastically.

The Economist

Research budgets have been cut.

The Economist

Services have been cut.

The New York Times

Interest rates have been cut dramatically.

The Economist

"We have been cut down to size.

The New York Times

Communications and electricity have been cut.

The Economist

But now they have been cut adrift.

The Economist

Already, hours have been cut back.

The New York Times

But even here, corners have been cut.

The Economist

All three have been cut.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "have been cut", ensure the context clearly indicates what has been reduced or removed. Be specific to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "have been cut" when the active voice would be more direct and impactful. For example, instead of "The budget has been cut by the board", consider "The board cut the budget."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been cut" functions as a passive perfect construction, indicating that an action of cutting or reducing has been completed before the moment of speaking. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

5%

Less common in

Academia

4%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "have been cut" is a grammatically sound and very common phrase used to describe a completed action of reduction or removal. According to Ludwig AI, its usage is correct and well-supported by numerous examples from reliable sources. Predominantly found in News & Media, the phrase serves to inform about cuts in various sectors, such as budgets, services, and jobs. While versatile, awareness of voice (active vs. passive) ensures its most impactful use.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have been reduced

Replaces "cut" with a synonym indicating a decrease in quantity or size.

have been decreased

A more formal alternative to "cut", indicating a reduction.

have been slashed

Suggests a more drastic or sudden reduction.

have been pared back

Implies a careful and strategic reduction.

have been trimmed

Suggests a neat or careful reduction, often in budgets or resources.

have been axed

Indicates a complete removal or cancellation.

have been curtailed

Implies a restriction or limitation, rather than a simple reduction.

have been lessened

Emphasizes a reduction in intensity or degree.

have been diminished

Focuses on the lessening of importance or impact.

have been truncated

Suggests that something has been shortened by cutting off a part.

FAQs

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

Use "have been cut" to indicate that something has been reduced or removed. For example, "Services "have been reduced" drastically."

What are some alternatives to "have been cut"?

You can use phrases like ""have been reduced"", "have been slashed", or "have been decreased" depending on the context.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "have been cut"?

While "have been cut" is grammatically correct in the passive voice, using the active voice can sometimes make your writing more direct. For example, instead of "The jobs "have been cut"", you could say "The company cut the jobs".

What does "have been cut" imply about the action?

"Have been cut" implies that an action of reduction or removal has already occurred and is completed at the time of reference.