have tended to

USAGE SUMMARY

"have tended to" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is a way to express that something has been a consistent or general trend over some period of time. For example, "Recent studies have tended to show that a balanced diet and regular exercise has a positive effect on mental health."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Recently revisions have tended to be downwards.

The Economist

"We have tended to have comforting things".

The New York Times

More recent writers have tended to agree.

The Guardian - Books

Exceptions have tended to involve civil rights.

The New Yorker

Antitrust regulators have tended to agree.

The New York Times

State governments have tended to monopolize power within their borders.

The New York Times

However, these have tended to contradict each other.

The Guardian - Opinion

Those programs have tended to help middle-class families most.

The New York Times

On the contrary, they have tended to make matters worse.

The Guardian - Business

Historically, the courts have tended to win those fights.

The New York Times

Recently, the estimates have tended to be revised upward.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have tended to" to express a general pattern or trend observed over time, rather than a strict rule or absolute truth. It implies a statistical inclination rather than a certainty.

Common error

Avoid using "have tended to" when you mean to express a definitive rule or fact. It's better suited for describing tendencies, not absolutes. For example, instead of saying "All politicians have tended to lie", which is an overstatement, it's better to describe a pattern, for example "Politicians "have tended to" play it safe."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have tended to" functions as an auxiliary verb phrase indicating a recurring or habitual action or state. Ludwig AI confirms its wide acceptance and usability. For example, "Exceptions "have tended to" involve civil rights."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

83%

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "have tended to" is a versatile and commonly used construction for expressing general trends or inclinations. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is considered grammatically correct and finds wide application across diverse writing contexts. Primarily found in news and media sources, "have tended to" conveys a pattern based on observation, without asserting an absolute truth. When using this phrase, ensure you're describing a statistical leaning rather than a definitive rule, and choose alternative phrases like "have generally done" or "have typically done" to fine-tune the nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have generally done

Replaces "tended to" with a more direct term for general action. Slightly stronger in implying consistent action.

have typically done

Indicates an action is characteristic, habitual, or representative, but more explicit about typicality.

have commonly done

Focuses on the prevalence of an action or state, suggesting it happens frequently or in many cases.

have usually done

Specifies that an action is the norm or expectation, but doesn't imply a long-term trend as strongly.

have often done

Emphasizes the frequency of the action, but not necessarily its consistency over time.

have shown a tendency to

More formal and explicitly states the existence of a tendency, rather than implying it through observation.

have been inclined to

Highlights a predisposition or willingness toward something, rather than a demonstrated pattern.

have gravitated toward

Suggests a natural movement or attraction toward something, often implying less deliberate choice.

have been prone to

Implies a susceptibility or vulnerability to something, often with negative connotations.

have favored

Indicates a preference or bias toward something, which may or may not be a consistent pattern.

FAQs

How can I use "have tended to" in a sentence?

Use "have tended to" to describe a general trend or pattern that has been observed over time. For example, "Recently, revisions "have tended to" be downwards."

What is a good alternative to "have tended to"?

Alternatives include "have generally done", "have typically done", or "have commonly done" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "have tended to"?

It's appropriate when you want to indicate a pattern or inclination without implying a strict rule. It suggests a statistical tendency rather than a certainty. For example, "Those programs "have tended to" help middle-class families most."

What's the difference between "have tended to" and "usually"?

"Have tended to" implies a consistent pattern over time, while "usually" simply denotes what occurs most often. "Professional sports "have tended to" weather economic troubles well" suggests a historical pattern, while "Professional sports usually weather economic troubles well" is a statement about the frequency.