have been reduced

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'have been reduced' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to convey that something has decreased in size or quantity. For example: "The number of employees in the company have been reduced by 10%".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Catering expenditures have been reduced.

The New Yorker

Its warehouses have been reduced to rubble.

Independent

Buildings have been reduced to mass graves.

The New Yorker

But these deployments have been reduced.

The New York Times

"Scouting staffs have been reduced, their importance have been reduced.

The New York Times - Sports

Police powers have been reduced under decriminalisation.

The Guardian - Opinion

Civilian areas have been reduced to ruins.

The Guardian

Sums, grammar and spelling have been reduced.

The Guardian

He continued, "Women have been reduced to objects and men have been reduced to thugs".

The New York Times

Houses and stores have been reduced to empty shells.

The New York Times

"We see a lot that have been reduced".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "have been reduced", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being reduced and by how much. Quantifying the reduction adds precision and clarity to your writing.

Common error

Ensure that the subject of the sentence agrees in number with the verb. A common mistake is using "has been reduced" when referring to a plural subject, or vice versa. For example, instead of 'The costs has been reduced', write 'The costs have been reduced'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been reduced" functions as a passive voice construction within the present perfect tense. It describes an action that has been completed, resulting in a current state of decreased quantity, size, or intensity. Ludwig's examples confirm its versatile application across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "have been reduced" is a grammatically sound and versatile construction in the present perfect tense, used to indicate a completed action resulting in a state of decrease. Ludwig AI confirms that it is widely applicable across numerous contexts, most commonly found in news and media, scientific, and formal business settings. To ensure clarity, specify what has been reduced and, whenever possible, by how much. Alternatives such as "have diminished", "have decreased", or "have lessened" can provide nuanced variations in meaning. Remember to maintain subject-verb agreement for grammatical correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have decreased

This alternative is a direct synonym, indicating a numerical or quantitative reduction.

have been lowered

This suggests a lowering of something, such as prices or standards.

have lessened

This phrase conveys a reduction in intensity or severity, often used in the context of pain or difficulty.

have been scaled down

This suggests a reduction in the size or scope of something, often a project or operation.

have diminished

This alternative suggests a gradual decrease or weakening. It focuses on the lessening of something's impact or importance.

have been curtailed

This alternative suggests a restriction or limitation, leading to a reduction in something's availability or extent.

have declined

This alternative suggests a downward trend or a decrease in quality or quantity over time.

have been cut back

This implies a deliberate reduction in resources or spending.

have been trimmed

This implies a slight or superficial reduction, like removing unnecessary parts.

have shrunk

This alternative implies a reduction in physical size or scope.

FAQs

How do I use "have been reduced" in a sentence?

Use "have been reduced" to indicate that something has decreased in quantity, size, or intensity. For instance, "The company's expenses "have been reduced" significantly this quarter".

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

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

Which is correct, "have been reduced" or "has been reduced"?

"Have been reduced" is used with plural subjects, while "has been reduced" is used with singular subjects. For example, "The prices have been reduced", but "The price has been reduced".

What's the difference between "have been reduced" and "were reduced"?

"Have been reduced" implies a present perfect tense, indicating an action that started in the past and continues to have relevance in the present. "Were reduced" is past tense, indicating an action completed in the past with no necessary connection to the present.