have been thought

USAGE SUMMARY

"have been thought" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate something was considered in the past, but is no longer believed. For example, "His behavior at the party was thought to be inappropriate, but later it was discovered that his actions had been misinterpreted."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Most thoughts have been thought before.

HuffPost

The changes have been thought through.

The New York Times

That had to have been thought through very carefully.

The New Yorker

Both have been thought of as stubborn and prickly.

The Economist

This could scarcely have been thought possible; but it worked.

The Economist

General manager and boss have been thought of synonymously.

Harvard Business Review

That does not seem to have been thought through.

The Guardian

Could they then have been thought of as consenting adults?

The Guardian

Everything will have been thought about, except thought itself.

The New York Times - Arts

"Traditionally, small vehicles have been thought of as being basic.

The New York Times

In the past, antidepressants have been thought to possess proconvulsant properties.

Epilepsy & Behavior

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "have been thought," ensure that the subject clearly indicates who held the belief or did the thinking. This improves clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

While "have been thought" is grammatically correct, overuse of passive voice can make your writing sound indirect and less engaging. Consider active voice alternatives when appropriate to enhance clarity and impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been thought" functions as a passive construction in the past perfect tense. It indicates that an idea, concept, or object was previously considered or believed to be a certain way. The phrase is widely used to denote outdated or evolving perspectives, as demonstrated by Ludwig's examples and confirmed by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

31%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

29%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "have been thought" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig, serving to indicate past beliefs or considerations that may or may not align with current understanding. Predominantly found in science, news media, and academic contexts, it effectively communicates historical perspectives and contrasts evolving knowledge. While versatile, mindful use of passive voice and clear subject identification are crucial for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have been regarded as

Adds "as" to specify what something has been considered to be.

were considered

Focuses on the action of considering, rather than the state of being thought about.

have been viewed as

Suggests a particular perspective or opinion on something.

were believed

Emphasizes the belief aspect, suggesting acceptance or faith in an idea.

have been perceived as

Highlights the subjective experience of how something is sensed or understood.

were deemed

Implies a formal judgment or assessment regarding something.

were regarded

Highlights the perspective or viewpoint from which something is viewed.

have been conceived as

Emphasizes the initial formation or creation of an idea.

were understood

Focuses on comprehension and knowledge of something.

have been imagined as

Focuses on the act of visualizing or fantasizing about something.

FAQs

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

Use "have been thought" to express past beliefs or considerations. For instance, "The Earth was once "thought" to be flat."

What are some alternatives to "have been thought"?

You can use phrases like "were considered", "were believed", or "were deemed" depending on the context.

Is "have been thought" formal or informal?

"Have been thought" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though it's more common in academic and journalistic writing.

What's the difference between "have been thought" and "had been thought"?

"Have been thought" refers to a state or belief that existed up to the present, while "had been thought" refers to a state or belief that existed in the past before another event.