have been forced

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have been forced" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone has been compelled to do something against their will, often in a passive construction. Example: "They have been forced to evacuate their homes due to the approaching storm."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The companies have been forced to adjust.

The New York Times

Many chapels have been forced to close.

The Guardian - Travel

"Plans have been forced out of markets".

The New York Times

"Working people have been forced out.

The New York Times

Teachers have been forced to make compromises.

The New York Times

She would have been forced out".

The Guardian

"I have been forced to sign him.

The Guardian - Sport

Should they have been forced to resign?

The Guardian

So both sides have been forced to talk.

The Economist

All opponents to Mr Niyazov have been forced to flee.

The Economist

They have been forced to deal directly with consumers.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have been forced" when you want to emphasize the lack of volition and external pressure on the subject. It highlights the constraint under which the action was taken.

Common error

Avoid using "have been forced" when a simple choice was involved. This phrase implies a lack of alternatives and significant external pressure, so ensure your language accurately reflects the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been forced" functions as a passive construction, indicating that the subject has been compelled to perform an action by an external force or circumstance. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's correctness and frequent usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Formal & Business

3%

Science

2%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "have been forced" is a grammatically correct and very common construction used to indicate that someone or something has been compelled to act due to external pressure or circumstances. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's most frequently found in news and media contexts, conveying a sense of lack of agency. When using this phrase, ensure clarity regarding the source of the force and the lack of viable alternatives. Consider semantically related options like "have been compelled" or "have been obliged" depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have been compelled

Emphasizes a strong sense of obligation or requirement.

have been obliged

Suggests a sense of duty or moral imperative.

have been required

Indicates a need based on a rule or regulation.

have been made to

Highlights the action of being made to do something, often against one's will.

were left with no choice but to

Implies a lack of alternatives and a resulting necessity.

were constrained to

Conveys a sense of limitation and imposed action.

were under pressure to

Suggests external influences leading to a certain action.

found themselves needing to

Indicates a realization of the need for action due to circumstances.

were driven to

Emphasizes the driving force behind an action, suggesting strong motivation.

were pushed into

Suggests an external influence that lead to the final action.

FAQs

How to use "have been forced" in a sentence?

The phrase "have been forced" indicates that someone or something was compelled to do something against their will or due to circumstances. For example, "They "have been forced to evacuate" their homes due to the flood".

What can I say instead of "have been forced"?

You can use alternatives like "have been compelled", "have been obliged", or "have been required" depending on the context and the degree of compulsion.

Which is correct, "have been forced to" or "were forced to"?

"Have been forced to" is used when the action happened recently or is ongoing, while "were forced to" is used for actions completed in the past. For example, "They "have been forced to adjust" their schedules" (recent) versus "They "were forced to cancel" the event last year" (past).

What's the difference between "have been forced" and "have been persuaded"?

"Have been forced" implies a lack of choice and external compulsion, while "have been persuaded" suggests that someone was convinced to do something, often through reasoning or encouragement.