have been earned

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have been earned" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has been obtained or achieved over a period of time, often in relation to rewards, recognition, or qualifications. Example: "The points you have been earned will be credited to your account at the end of the month."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In this approach, productivity losses associated with mortality are estimated by calculating the capitalized value of future lifetime earnings that would have been earned by those who died prematurely.

Cost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation

This does not include the dividends that would have been earned.

The New York Times

More than 40% of the fees have been earned in America.

The Economist

Even if the money that built the church might have been earned through crime, even killings?

The New York Times

Early delivery means advance payment, with any interest that might have been earned in the interim being forgone.

The Economist

It is important to let these options lapse and settle for whatever financial returns have been earned.

Harvard Business Review

Most state constitutions have long barred cutting public pension benefits that have been earned, but that fact alone did not force change.

The New York Times

Nor will the proposed regulations affect retirees who are already receiving pension checks; pension benefits cannot be reduced once they have been earned.

The New York Times

It said it was imposing no limits to bonuses but said such payments "must actually have been earned by the company over the long term".

The New York Times

Fortunes have been earned, with Deloitte noting that there are now more billionaires in Beijing (100) than in New York City (95).

The Guardian

Because the list includes only the C.E.O.'s of public companies, it does not capture the many billions that have been earned by top hedge fund managers and private-equity dealmakers in recent years.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have been earned" to emphasize that something was obtained through effort, time, or specific actions. It's suitable when highlighting the process leading to the achievement.

Common error

Avoid using "have been earned" in contexts where an active voice would be clearer and more direct. Overusing passive voice can make your writing sound vague or less impactful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been earned" functions as a past perfect passive construction. It describes an action that was completed at some point in the past and emphasizes the result of that action. Ludwig AI confirms its standard usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Academia

24%

Science

19%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "have been earned" is a versatile and frequently used expression to denote something obtained through effort and merit. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. It appears most commonly in news, academic, and scientific contexts, indicating its broad applicability. When writing, use it to emphasize the process leading to an achievement and remember that phrases like "were deserved" or "have been achieved" may serve as effective alternatives. By understanding these nuances, you can effectively use the phrase "have been earned" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were deserved

Focuses on the fairness or appropriateness of receiving something.

were merited

Emphasizes the quality or actions that made something worthy of being earned.

were justified

Highlights the validation or legitimization of the earning.

have been justified

Highlights the validation or legitimization of the earning in present perfect tense.

are well-deserved

Emphasizes the appropriateness and deservedness of the achievement.

were won

Focuses on the act of winning or achieving something, often through competition.

have been achieved

Highlights the successful accomplishment of a goal or task.

have been gained

Implies the acquisition of something, whether tangible or intangible.

have been obtained

Focuses on the act of getting or acquiring something, often through effort.

have been secured

Suggests that something has been firmly and safely acquired.

FAQs

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

You can use "have been earned" to indicate that something was obtained through effort or merit, as in, "The rewards "have been earned" through dedication and hard work."

What phrases are similar to "have been earned"?

Alternatives include "were deserved", "were merited", or "have been achieved", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "have been earned" and "have been given"?

"Have been earned" implies effort and merit, while "have been given" implies a gift or something received without necessarily putting in work. For example, a bonus "have been earned" through performance, but a gift is "have been given" without expectation.

Which is correct, "have been earned" or "was earned"?

Both are grammatically correct, but "have been earned" (present perfect) implies a connection to the present, while "was earned" (simple past) refers to a completed action in the past. For example, "The points "have been earned" this month" versus "The award was earned last year".