have been upheld

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have been upheld" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where a decision, law, or principle has been confirmed or maintained, often in legal or formal discussions. Example: "The court's ruling has been upheld by the higher court, reinforcing the original decision."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

No such laws have been upheld.

The New York Times - Arts

Such requirements have been upheld in Buckley and McConnell.

Cornell University

Four decades later, our findings have been upheld.

Independent

The ruling would have been upheld — by a simple majority.

The New Yorker

All but a handful of laws have been upheld.

The Washington Post

Several of its complaints have been upheld by monitors' reports.

The Guardian

Many of those methods have been upheld by the courts.

The New York Times

All such provisions have been upheld in the courts of the United States, he said.

The New York Times

Executions have been upheld in cases in which defense lawyers slept through crucial proceedings.

The New York Times

Most injunctions have been upheld on appeal and take effect until liability is decided.

The New York Times - Tech

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

They had all of the protections of the American court system, and their convictions have been upheld.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have been upheld" when you want to emphasize that a decision, law, or principle has been officially confirmed or maintained, especially in legal or formal contexts. For instance, "The court's decision to dismiss the case has been upheld by the appellate court."

Common error

Avoid using "uphold" in the active voice when the passive voice is more appropriate. Incorrect: "The court has upheld the decision." Correct: "The decision has been upheld by the court." The passive voice emphasizes the decision itself, rather than the act of upholding.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been upheld" functions as a passive construction, indicating that a prior action or decision has received confirmation or support. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is correct and usable in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

77%

Academia

11%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "have been upheld" is a grammatically correct and frequently used passive construction, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It signifies that a prior decision, law, or principle has been confirmed or maintained, primarily in legal or formal contexts. This phrase is commonly found in news and media, academia, and encyclopedias. While alternatives like "have been sustained" or "have been validated" exist, it's essential to use "have been upheld" when emphasizing official confirmation. When writing, ensure the passive voice is used correctly to highlight the confirmed decision rather than the act of upholding.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have been sustained

Replaces "upheld" with "sustained", implying the continuation or maintenance of a ruling or decision.

have been validated

Substitutes "upheld" with "validated", suggesting that something has been proven correct or justified.

have been affirmed

Replaces "upheld" with "affirmed", emphasizing a confirmation or endorsement of a previous judgment.

have been ratified

Substitutes "upheld" with "ratified", implying formal approval or confirmation, especially of a treaty or agreement.

have been supported

Replaces "upheld" with "supported", indicating that something has received backing or approval.

have been maintained

Substitutes "upheld" with "maintained", suggesting that something has been kept in its original state or condition.

have been preserved

Replaces "upheld" with "preserved", indicating that something has been protected from harm or change.

have been vindicated

Substitutes "upheld" with "vindicated", implying that something has been proven right or justified after doubt.

have been confirmed

Replaces "upheld" with "confirmed", emphasizing that something has been verified or proven to be true.

have been defended

Substitutes "upheld" with "defended", suggesting that something has been protected against attack or criticism.

FAQs

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

The phrase "have been upheld" indicates that a decision, law, or principle has been confirmed or maintained. For example, "The lower court's ruling "has been upheld" by the Supreme Court".

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

You can use alternatives like "have been sustained", "have been validated", or "have been affirmed" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "the court has upheld" instead of "the decision has been upheld"?

While "the court has upheld" is grammatically correct, "the decision "has been upheld"" is often preferred because it emphasizes the decision and its confirmation, placing the focus on the outcome rather than the action of the court.

What is the difference between "have been upheld" and "have been overturned"?

"Have been upheld" means a previous decision has been confirmed, while "have been overturned" means a previous decision has been reversed or invalidated. They are antonyms.