have been solicited

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have been solicited" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone has been asked for their input, support, or participation in something, often in a formal context. Example: "The committee members have been solicited for their opinions on the proposed changes to the policy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

Politicians and activists alike admit that they have been solicited by Iranian representatives with offers of cash and free trips.

The Economist

THE QUESTIONS Often there will be questions that have been solicited from average Americans on key issues.

The New Yorker

Others who have been solicited or who have expressed interest include a mix of retail groups, regional and national developers, apartment builders and universities.

The New York Times

In recent years, 70 percent of the elderly have been solicited to take out new mortgages, according to a survey by AARP.

The New York Times

Some of the costs of the library option could be offset by the sale of the existing library, but no bids have been solicited.

The New York Times

Reconstruction bids have been solicited and received, but the project is still in the planning phase; total costs are estimated at $20 million, and a capital campaign will begin once the final concept is approved.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

Since then, they have been soliciting clients of their accounting firm for contributions to the fund.

The New York Times

Donations revealed in campaign finance filings by American Crossroads, however, offer a glimpse of the kinds of hefty contributions its leaders have been soliciting.

The New York Times

Yet politicians have been soliciting similar proposals since 2007, without bringing any to fruition; abortive efforts at Peterhead go back even further.

The Economist

In it, a growing number of larger and publicly traded utilities and financial services firms have been soliciting retail investors over the last year or so.

The New York Times

Knight and its advisers have been soliciting potential suitors for various parts of its businesses, including rivals like Citadel and Virtu Financial, according to people briefed on the matter.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have been solicited" when you want to emphasize that someone was specifically asked for something, often in a formal or official context.

Common error

Avoid using "have been solicited" when an active voice construction would be clearer and more direct. For instance, instead of "Donations have been solicited by the organization", consider "The organization has solicited donations".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been solicited" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that someone or something has received a request or has been asked for something. This is supported by Ludwig, which provides various examples of its usage in real-world contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "have been solicited" is a grammatically sound phrase used to indicate that a request has been made, often in a formal context. As Ludwig AI confirms, the expression is correct and usable in written English. It functions in the passive voice, communicating that someone or something has been asked for something, such as opinions, bids, or contributions. While the phrase sees common use in various contexts, it tends to appear most frequently in news, media, and scientific publications. When using "have been solicited", ensure it accurately reflects a formal or deliberate request, and consider alternatives such as "have been requested" or "have been invited" for slight variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have been requested

Focuses on the act of asking for something formally.

have been asked for

A more direct and simple way of saying someone's input was sought.

have been invited

Suggests a formal invitation to participate or contribute.

have been approached

Indicates that someone has been contacted with a proposal or request.

have received requests

Emphasizes the receipt of multiple requests.

have been canvassed

Suggests a systematic effort to obtain opinions or support from a group.

have been polled

Implies a formal survey or opinion-gathering process.

have been sounded out

Means to explore someone's feelings or opinions in an indirect way.

have been petitioned

Indicates a formal written request or appeal.

have been propositioned

Suggests a formal proposal or suggestion, often in a business or legal context.

FAQs

How to use "have been solicited" in a sentence?

Use "have been solicited" to indicate that someone has been asked or requested for something, often implying a formal or official request. Example: "Bids "have been solicited" for the reconstruction project".

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

You can use alternatives like "have been requested", "have been invited", or "have been approached" depending on the context.

Is "have been solicited" formal or informal?

"Have been solicited" tends to be more formal, suggesting an official or deliberate request. Informal alternatives might include "were asked for" or "got asked for".

What's the difference between "have been solicited" and "have been asked"?

"Have been solicited" implies a more proactive and often formal request, while "have been asked" is a more general term. "Have been solicited" suggests that effort was made to seek something out, versus simply receiving a question or request.