have been lowered

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have been lowered" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has been reduced or decreased in level, amount, or intensity over a period of time. Example: "The prices of the products have been lowered to attract more customers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

Costs to borrowers have been lowered.

The New York Times

Well, the entrance requirements have been lowered.

The New York Times

The expectations have been lowered this season.

The New York Times - Sports

Prices have been lowered slightly since I was last there.

The New York Times

Several newspaper companies have been lowered to junk status.

The New York Times

And, crucially, interest rates have been lowered in many countries.

The Economist

Expectations of a rate cut have been lowered in recent weeks.

The New York Times

The front and rear bumper beams have been lowered to match car bumpers better.

The New York Times

Incredibly, taxes have been lowered, not raised, since the wars began.

The New York Times

In tribute to Dr. Salten, all Hofstra University flags have been lowered to half staff.

The New York Times

"In the last few years there have been lowered tensions in society.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the connotation of "lowered". If a more neutral term is needed, consider "reduced" or "decreased".

Common error

While generally acceptable, "have been lowered" can sometimes sound less formal than alternatives like "have been reduced" or "have been decreased", especially in academic or professional writing. Assess your audience to choose a wording with an appropriate formality level.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been lowered" functions as a passive voice construction in the present perfect tense. It indicates that the subject of the sentence has undergone a reduction or decrease. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

22%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "have been lowered" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase indicating a reduction or decrease. According to Ludwig AI, it is suitable for various contexts, although its formality can be nuanced. When writing, ensure that what is being lowered is clearly specified. Consider alternatives like "have been reduced" or "have been decreased" depending on the desired level of formality. The phrase appears commonly in news and media, scientific publications, and formal business contexts. By considering these factors, you can effectively use "have been lowered" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have been reduced

Replaces "lowered" with a more general term for decreasing something. Slightly more formal.

have been decreased

Similar to "have been reduced", but suggests a more quantifiable reduction.

have been diminished

Implies a reduction in importance or quality, in addition to quantity.

have been lessened

Indicates a weakening or mitigation of something, such as pain or impact.

have been curtailed

Suggests that something has been restricted or limited.

have been weakened

Similar to lessened, with an emphasis on the reduction in strength or power.

have been discounted

This is specifically applied to prices or values.

have been discounted

Specifies a reduction in price or cost.

have abated

Refers to something diminishing in intensity or degree, often used for storms or pain.

have sunk

Indicates a drop in some abstract quality, value, or level. This can be both figurative and literal.

FAQs

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

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

Is "have been lowered" grammatically correct?

Yes, "have been lowered" is grammatically correct. It is the present perfect passive form of the verb "lower".

When is it appropriate to use "have been lowered"?

"Have been lowered" is appropriate when you want to express that something has been reduced or decreased at some point in the past and is relevant to the present situation. For example, "The prices "have been lowered" to attract more customers."

What is the difference between "have been lowered" and "were lowered"?

"Have been lowered" (present perfect passive) implies a past action with present relevance, while "were lowered" (simple past passive) simply describes a past action without necessarily emphasizing its current impact. Use "have been lowered" when the fact that something was lowered still matters now.