have been deterred

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have been deterred" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that someone or something has been prevented from taking a particular action due to a specific obstacle or deterrent. Example: Many students have been deterred from pursuing a career in science due to the challenging coursework and long study hours.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I would have been deterred.

The Guardian

Would our attackers have been deterred by consent lessons?

The Guardian - Opinion

Jon S. Corzine may not have been deterred by this.

The New York Times

So you have to argue they have been deterred".

The New York Times

Few people seem to have been deterred by the lack of evidence.

The New Yorker

With the worrying exception of part-timers, few students have been deterred from applying to university.

The Economist

The authorities appear not have been deterred by the problems that the railway brought to Lhasa.

The Economist

Those who went early on might have been deterred by the long queue outside.

The Economist

Private equity companies have been deterred from investing in European telecom networks.

The New York Times

Or could buyers have been deterred by the fear of easy imitation?

The New York Times - Arts

People have been deterred from [making legal claims] by the abuse.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "have been deterred", ensure the context clearly indicates what specific factors or obstacles caused the discouragement or prevention. Provide enough information for the reader to understand the cause-and-effect relationship.

Common error

Avoid using "have been deterred" without specifying what caused the deterrence. Vague statements lack impact and leave the reader wondering about the reasons behind the action being prevented.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been deterred" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that a subject has been discouraged or prevented from taking a specific action. It highlights the effect of an external influence on the subject. Ludwig shows numerous examples of this usage in varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Formal & Business

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "have been deterred" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to indicate that individuals or entities have been discouraged or prevented from taking a specific action due to certain factors. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is widely used, particularly in news and media contexts. When using "have been deterred", it's important to specify the cause of the deterrence to provide clarity and impact. Alternatives like "have been discouraged" or "have been prevented" can be used to add nuance, but it is critical to keep in mind that they have slightly different semantic connotations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have been discouraged

Replaces "deterred" with "discouraged", focusing on a loss of enthusiasm or motivation.

have been prevented

Emphasizes the action of stopping something from happening, replacing "deterred" with "prevented".

have been dissuaded

Highlights the act of persuading someone not to do something, a slightly more active connotation than "deterred".

have been hindered

Focuses on obstacles slowing or stopping progress, instead of complete prevention.

have been restrained

Suggests a holding back or limitation, implying less direct prevention.

have been inhibited

Indicates a psychological or emotional barrier, rather than an external one.

were stopped from

Changes the voice to active, emphasizing the agent doing the stopping.

were kept from

Suggests a more forceful prevention, implying active measures to keep someone from doing something.

faced obstacles that discouraged

Highlights the challenges faced and their discouraging effect, changing the sentence structure.

experienced barriers to

Focuses on the barriers themselves, rather than the act of deterring, also changes the structure.

FAQs

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

Use "have been deterred" to describe how obstacles or factors have prevented someone or something from taking a particular action. For example, "Many investors "have been deterred" by the economic instability".

What are some alternatives to "have been deterred"?

You can use alternatives such as "have been discouraged", "have been prevented", or "have been dissuaded" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "have been deterred" or "has been deterred"?

"Have been deterred" is used with plural subjects, while "has been deterred" is used with singular subjects. For example, "They "have been deterred"" versus "He "has been deterred"".

What's the difference between "deterred" and "prevented"?

"Deterred" implies discouraging or dissuading someone from doing something, while "prevented" means stopping something from happening altogether. For example, high prices might "have been deterred" buyers, whereas security measures might have been prevented a crime.