have been outsourced

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have been outsourced" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing tasks, services, or jobs that have been contracted out to external parties or companies. Example: "Many of our customer service operations have been outsourced to improve efficiency and reduce costs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

47 human-written examples

Their jobs have been outsourced".

The New Yorker

Writing the rules for the coin toss appears to have been outsourced to the I.R.S.

The New York Times - Sports

Four areas of its business operations — circulation management, marketing, research and brand development — have been outsourced.

The New York Times

Lately, things have become even murkier as Symbian appears to have been "outsourced to Accenture".

The Guardian - Tech

What about workers employed in public services that have been outsourced to private companies?

The Guardian

The "business-as-usual" bits of their operations have been outsourced, leaving them free to design and orchestrate new ideas.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

10 human-written examples

While other airlines have been outsourcing their maintenance operations abroad, American still does its own maintenance.

The New York Times

Councils of all stripes have been outsourcing for decades, which is why your local traffic warden is usually tramping the streets on behalf of a private firm.

The Guardian - Opinion

Responsibilities had been outsourced.

The New Yorker

Their party has been outsourced.

The New York Times

It has been outsourced.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase, be mindful of the potential negative connotations associated with job losses or reduced quality, and frame the context accordingly.

Common error

Avoid stating that "everything has been outsourced". Be specific about which functions or departments have been outsourced to maintain accuracy and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been outsourced" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that a task, process, or job has been delegated to an external entity. Ludwig's examples illustrate the phrase's use in describing business operations, manufacturing, and public services.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Science

26%

Formal & Business

18%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "have been outsourced" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe the delegation of tasks, processes, or jobs to external entities. As confirmed by Ludwig, this passive construction is frequently used in news, science, and business contexts. When using this phrase, it's important to be clear about what specific tasks have been outsourced and to whom. While generally neutral in tone, remember that outsourcing can sometimes carry negative connotations related to job displacement or quality concerns.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have been contracted out

This alternative emphasizes the contractual agreement involved in transferring responsibilities.

have been delegated

This alternative highlights the act of assigning tasks to another party.

have been subcontracted

This option specifically refers to hiring a subcontractor to perform certain duties.

have been transferred externally

This emphasizes the outward movement of tasks from the original entity.

have been offshored

This alternative specifies that the outsourcing has occurred to a different country.

have been farmed out

This alternative carries a slightly more informal tone, suggesting delegation to another entity.

have been sourced externally

This phrase stresses the external sourcing of services or tasks.

have been assigned to a third party

This alternative indicates a clear assignment of tasks to an outside entity.

are now being performed by external providers

This highlights the current state of tasks being done by external entities.

have been given over to external management

This suggests a more complete transfer of control and oversight to an outside party.

FAQs

What does it mean when something is described as "have been outsourced"?

When tasks or jobs "have been outsourced", it means they have been contracted to an external company or individual, often to reduce costs or improve efficiency.

What are some alternatives to saying "have been outsourced"?

You can use alternatives like "have been contracted out", "have been delegated", or "have been subcontracted" depending on the specific context.

Is there a difference between "have been outsourced" and "have been offshored"?

Yes, while both involve contracting work to external entities, "have been offshored" specifically refers to outsourcing to a company in another country, often to take advantage of lower labor costs.

What are the potential implications of tasks "have been outsourced"?

Outsourcing can lead to cost savings and increased efficiency, but it may also result in job losses within the original company and potential concerns about quality control.