have been misled

USAGE SUMMARY

"have been misled" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to indicate that someone or something has been directed in the wrong way or made to believe something that is not true. For example: "The students have been misled by their teacher's inaccurate information."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"People have been misled.

The New York Times

He must have been misled by Mlle.

The New York Times - Arts

Now they feel they have been misled.

The Guardian

However, clinicians may have been misled in their choices.

The New York Times

"He must have been misled by other people.

Independent

(How's that for a lead?) You have been misled.

The New York Times

Starbucks says a "reasonable consumer" would not have been misled.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Yet in broad terms, all have been misled by a similar fallacy.

The Economist

Ikea is offering refunds to customers who feel that they have been misled while purchasing sofas.

Independent

One possibility is that environmentalists have been misled by their past success.

The Economist

Woods has since said he believes he may have been misled during his initial investigation.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "have been misled", ensure the context clearly indicates who or what caused the misleading information or action. Provide specific details to enhance clarity and impact.

Common error

Avoid using "have been misled" without specifying the source or nature of the misleading information. Vague statements can weaken your argument and leave the reader confused. Be precise and provide context to strengthen your statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been misled" functions as a passive voice construction of the verb "mislead". It indicates that the subject of the sentence has been subjected to deception or given incorrect information, leading to a misunderstanding or wrong action. Ludwig AI confirms its correct grammatical structure.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "have been misled" is a common and grammatically sound way to express that someone has received incorrect information or been deceived, as affirmed by Ludwig AI. Predominantly found in News & Media, and Academia, it serves to highlight instances where individuals or groups acted based on false or incomplete information. To ensure clarity and impact, it's crucial to provide specific details regarding the source and nature of the misleading information. Alternative phrases like "have been deceived" or "have been tricked" can be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have been deceived

Focuses more directly on the act of deception.

have been tricked

Implies a cunning or deceptive act.

have been fooled

Suggests naivety or a lack of awareness.

have been duped

Similar to tricked, but often implies a more elaborate scheme.

have been hoodwinked

Suggests being deceived by trickery or cunning.

have been led astray

Emphasizes the act of being guided in the wrong direction.

have been taken advantage of

Highlights the exploitation aspect of being misled.

have been given false information

Emphasizes the provision of incorrect data as the cause of being misled.

have been misinformed

Focuses on receiving incorrect information, possibly unintentionally.

have been bamboozled

Suggests a more playful or lighthearted form of deception.

FAQs

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

You can use "have been misled" to indicate that someone or a group of people received wrong information or were deceived. For example: "The public "have been misled" about the safety of the product."

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

You can use alternatives like "have been deceived", "have been tricked", or "have been fooled" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "has been misled" instead of "have been misled"?

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

What's the difference between "have been misled" and "have been mistaken"?

"Have been misled" implies deception or wrong information provided by someone else, while "have been mistaken" implies an honest error in judgment or understanding.