have been touched

USAGE SUMMARY

"have been touched" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that something has been affected emotionally or physically. For example: "The stories of the survivors of the disaster have been touched our hearts."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Those who have been touched by that may mark your deeds in Beens.

TechCrunch

So far few have been touched.

The Economist

He considers them unreal because they have been touched up.

The New Yorker

We have been touched by so many good people.

The New York Times

"All of us have been touched by this terrible tragedy".

The New York Times

"I touch packages that have been touched a thousand times.

The New York Times

About a dozen European countries have been touched by the scandal.

The New York Times

The men and creatures in the tapestry have been touched by the light of the sun.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

"Nothing had been touched.

The New Yorker

A nerve has been touched.

The New Yorker

"He has been touched".

The New York Times - Style

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing physical contact, ensure clarity about who or what is doing the touching to avoid ambiguity. For example, "The artifact should only be handled by trained professionals to prevent damage."

Common error

Ensure that the context clearly indicates who or what caused the touching. Vague sentences like "The issue has been touched" can be confusing. Instead, specify who addressed the issue: "The issue has been touched upon by the committee during the meeting."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been touched" functions as the present perfect passive voice of the verb "touch". It indicates that someone or something has experienced an action (being touched), whether physically or emotionally. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

17%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "have been touched" is a grammatically sound and widely used expression suitable for various contexts. According to Ludwig AI, it is correct and usable in written English to express the effect or influence on something emotionally or physically. It is frequently used in news and media, scientific articles, and academic papers. When using the phrase, ensure clarity by specifying the agent of the action and avoid vague passive constructions. Alternatives like "have been moved by" or "have been affected by" may be used to add nuance. Top sources like The New York Times and The Guardian frequently employ this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were affected by

This alternative focuses on the impact or influence experienced as a result of something.

were impacted by

Similar to "were affected by", this phrase highlights the influence and consequences of an event or situation.

have felt the effects of

This phrase directly emphasizes the results or consequences of an event or action.

have been moved by

This phrase specifically relates to emotional influence.

were influenced by

This alternative suggests being changed or altered by something or someone.

have been stirred by

Similar to "have been moved by", it emphasizes a strong emotional response.

experienced

This is a more general term for having gone through something.

gone through

Focuses on the process of experiencing something, often implying a challenge or difficulty.

have been reached by

Implies that something extended its influence to affect someone or something.

were exposed to

This indicates being subjected to something, often with the connotation of potential harm or influence.

FAQs

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

The phrase "have been touched" can be used to describe emotional impact, as in "Many people "have been moved by" the story", or physical contact, as in "The artifacts should not "have been handled" without gloves."

What is a good alternative to "have been touched" when referring to emotional impact?

Alternatives include "have been moved by", "have been affected by", or "have been influenced by", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "have been touched" grammatically correct?

Yes, "have been touched" is grammatically correct. It is the present perfect passive form of the verb "touch".

When is it appropriate to use "have been touched"?

It's appropriate to use "have been touched" when you want to express that someone or something has been emotionally affected, or when describing a physical interaction that has occurred.