have been obscured

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have been obscured" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has been hidden or made unclear over a period of time. Example: "The true meaning of the text has been obscured by various interpretations throughout history."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Some details have been obscured.

The New York Times

In that sense these stories have been obscured.

The New York Times - Arts

In others, it confirms older truths that have been obscured.

The New Yorker

The importance and seriousness of Thursday's AV referendum have been obscured by scratchy, bad-tempered debate.

Independent

And, in all the excitement about what the market can offer, hard questions have been obscured.

The New Yorker

She fears it may have been obscured or obliterated by a recent repolishing in Calcutta.

The New York Times

I wore long earrings that would have been obscured by the long hair I'd always had.

The New York Times

The authorities said Mr. Hysenlekaj might have been obscured from the backhoe operator's view.

The New York Times

Campbell-Bannerman's achievements have been obscured by the stories of 12-course dinners and Gaiety Girls.

The Guardian - Opinion

In the process, however, two very destructive endemic conditions in South African society have been obscured.

The Guardian - Opinion

These opportunities have been obscured by existing costing systems that have little connection to the processes actually performed.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have been obscured" to indicate that something has become less clear or noticeable over time due to various factors. Ensure the context clearly identifies what has caused the obscuring.

Common error

Avoid using "have been obscured" when an active voice construction would be more direct and clear. For example, instead of "The details have been obscured by the author", consider "The author obscured the details".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been obscured" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that something has been made unclear or less visible. As confirmed by Ludwig, it suggests that an action has been performed on a subject, resulting in its current state of being obscured.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "have been obscured" is a grammatically correct passive voice construction used to indicate that something has become unclear or less visible over time. According to Ludwig, this phrase commonly appears in news media, scientific literature, and academic writing, reflecting a neutral to formal register. Alternatives such as "have been hidden" or "have been concealed" can be used depending on the specific context. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly identifies what has caused the obscuring to avoid ambiguity. According to Ludwig, using an active voice might result in a direct and clearer sentence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have been concealed

Replaces "obscured" with "concealed", suggesting a deliberate hiding of information.

have been hidden

Substitutes "obscured" with "hidden", indicating something is not easily found or seen.

have been masked

Replaces "obscured" with "masked", implying that something has been covered up or disguised.

have been veiled

Substitutes "obscured" with "veiled", suggesting something is covered with a layer that makes it less clear.

have been clouded

Replaces "obscured" with "clouded", indicating something has become unclear or confused.

have been blurred

Substitutes "obscured" with "blurred", implying that something has lost its distinctness.

have been eclipsed

Replaces "obscured" with "eclipsed", suggesting something has been overshadowed or surpassed.

have faded from view

Expresses that something has gradually disappeared or become less noticeable.

are no longer apparent

Indicates that something is not easily noticeable or understood.

have been lost to sight

Suggests that something has disappeared and can no longer be seen or understood.

FAQs

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

You can use "have been obscured" to indicate that something has become unclear or hidden, such as "The historical facts "have been obscured" by political agendas".

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

You can use alternatives like "have been hidden", "have been concealed", or "have been masked" depending on the context.

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

"Have been obscured" implies a process or state that has continued over time, while "was obscured" refers to a single instance in the past. For example: "The truth "have been obscured" by propaganda" versus "The view was obscured by the fog".

What's the difference between "have been obscured" and "are obscured"?

"Have been obscured" indicates a past action with ongoing effects, while "are obscured" describes a current state. For example: "The details "have been obscured" due to poor record-keeping", versus "The stars are obscured by the clouds".