have been written

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have been written" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something was written in the past and has relevance to the present or is still applicable. Example: "Many great novels have been written over the years that explore the human condition."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Books have been written.

The New York Times - Arts

Poems have been written about it.

The Economist

Tomes have been written about this.

The New York Times

Books have been written about insect sex.

The New York Times - Science

Dafter stories have been written.

The Guardian - Sport

It could have been written for George III.

The New Yorker

"Second, it could have been written today..

The New York Times

Millions of words have been written.

The Guardian - Business

Books have been written about it.

The Guardian

"That could have been written today".

The New York Times

Should it not have been written?

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have been written" to emphasize the completed action of writing and its ongoing relevance or impact.

Common error

Avoid using "have been written" when referring to a future event; instead, use "will be written" or "are to be written".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been written" functions as a passive perfect construction, indicating that something was written at an unspecified time in the past and the action's effects are still relevant or ongoing. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s a valid and usable construct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Science

24%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "have been written" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to describe completed writing actions with present relevance. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase is correct and applicable in written English. Its frequency across diverse sources, particularly in News & Media and Science, confirms its widespread usage. Remember to use it when emphasizing the ongoing impact of written works and avoid it when referring to future events. Be mindful of subject-verb agreement (have vs. has) and consider formal alternatives like "have been composed" in specific contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were written

Past tense form of the phrase, indicating the action occurred and finished in the past.

have been composed

Focuses on the act of creating or forming something in a written or artistic manner.

had been written

Past perfect tense, indicating the writing was completed before a specific point in the past.

have been drafted

Emphasizes the initial writing or preparation of a document or plan.

have been authored

Highlights the role of the writer or creator of the work.

have been penned

Suggests a more personal or literary style of writing.

have been documented

Focuses on the act of officially recording information.

have been recorded

Indicates that information has been documented in writing.

have been transcribed

Implies that the text was copied from another source.

have been inscribed

Suggests writing that is carved or engraved onto a surface.

FAQs

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

Use "have been written" to describe something that was written in the past and continues to be relevant. For example, "Many books "have been written" about World War II".

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

"Have been written" implies relevance to the present, while "were written" refers to a completed action in the past with no specific connection to the present. For example, "The letters "were written" last year."

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

"Have been written" is used with plural subjects, while "has been written" is used with singular subjects. For example, "Many poems "have been written"," but "A single poem "has been written"".

What can I use instead of "have been written" to sound more formal?

You can use alternatives such as "have been composed" or "have been authored depending on the context.