have been diminished

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have been diminished" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that has been lowered or weakened. For example, "The size of the workforce has been diminished due to the recent recession."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

No, but they certainly have been diminished".

The New York Times - Magazine

These days, Mrs. Yeltskaya said, her duties have been diminished.

The New York Times

Some politicians have been diminished, even reduced to obscurity.

The New York Times

This is often because their aspirations have been diminished by those who "know best".

The Guardian

Even more than the Amazon, these two ecosystems have been diminished by the expansion of farmland.

The Guardian

Their World Cup chances have been diminished in no way by losing to England and Ireland.

The Guardian - Sport

WS: Yeah, but haven't almost all of the works have been diminished by the context?

The Guardian - Arts

While local blogs and community weeklies do their part, the latter have been diminished.

The New York Times

By that much, the opportunities for employment generation provided by multiple cropping will have been diminished.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Others have been diminished to the point where it wouldn't matter if they did go away.

The New York Times

Unfortunately, the larger-than-life jesters it discusses have been diminished, reduced to dried, shrunken skulls.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "have been diminished", ensure the subject and context clearly indicate what is losing its strength, value, or quantity. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity in your writing.

Common error

Avoid overusing the passive voice with "have been diminished" if it obscures the actor or cause of the reduction. Active voice often provides a more direct and impactful statement. For example, instead of "The team's morale has been diminished by the losses", consider "The losses diminished the team's morale".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been diminished" functions as a passive verb phrase. It describes a state where something has undergone a reduction in size, strength, or importance. According to Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Science

28%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "have been diminished" is a versatile and commonly used expression that indicates a reduction or weakening of something. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. Analysis of its usage reveals its prevalence in news, scientific, and academic contexts. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying what exactly has been diminished and, where appropriate, consider using the active voice for greater impact. Related phrases like "have been reduced" or "have been weakened" can provide nuanced alternatives depending on the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have been reduced

Focuses on a quantifiable decrease in size or number.

have been lessened

Emphasizes a decrease in intensity or degree.

have been weakened

Highlights a loss of strength or power.

have been decreased

Similar to reduced, but often used for abstract concepts.

have been curtailed

Indicates a restriction or limitation.

have been impaired

Suggests a functional reduction or damage.

have been undermined

Implies a gradual weakening or erosion of something.

have been eroded

Focuses on a gradual wearing away or decline.

have been depreciated

Refers to a reduction in value, often financial.

have been trivialized

Suggests something has been made to seem less important.

FAQs

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

Use "have been diminished" to describe something that has been reduced in size, extent, or importance. For example, "The company's profits "have been diminished" due to increased competition".

What are some alternatives to "have been diminished"?

You can use alternatives like "have been reduced", "have been lessened", or "have been weakened" depending on the specific context.

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

While "have been diminished" is in the passive voice, consider using the active voice if you want to emphasize the cause of the reduction. For example, instead of "Trust "has been diminished"", use "Actions diminished trust".

What does it mean when something is described as "have been diminished"?

It means that something has become smaller, weaker, or less significant than it was before. The extent and impact of the reduction depend on the specific context in which the phrase is used.