he is believed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he is believed" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It typically means that someone else or a group of people have a belief or opinion about a person or situation. Example: "He is believed to be the most qualified candidate for the job." In this sentence, the belief is coming from someone else or a group of people, and it is stating that the person in question is considered the most qualified for the job.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He is believed to still be living among IS.

Vice

He is believed to have died immediately.

Independent

He is believed to be in Afghanistan.

The New York Times

The polls suggest that he is believed.

The Economist

He is believed to have been killed.

The Guardian

He is believed to be in hiding.

The Guardian

He is believed to be well.

The New York Times

He is believed to have killed himself.

The New York Times

He is believed to be unarmed.

The New York Times

He is believed to have survived.

The New York Times

He is believed to be the Mets' longest-tenured employee.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "he is believed" when you want to convey information without taking personal responsibility for its accuracy. It's useful when citing a common assumption or report.

Common error

Avoid using "he is believed" excessively, as overuse of passive voice can make your writing sound weak and indirect. Consider active alternatives if appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he is believed" functions as a passive construction, indicating that the subject is the recipient of an action or belief. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. It's used to express what others think or assume about someone, often without direct evidence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Encyclopedias

15%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Science

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "he is believed" is a grammatically correct and frequently used passive construction. Ludwig AI confirms this, and its purpose is to convey information about a person based on indirect evidence or general consensus. Predominantly found in "News & Media", the phrase maintains a neutral register, reporting information without necessarily endorsing it. While useful for indicating common assumptions, overuse of passive voice should be avoided. Consider related phrases like "he is thought to" or "it is presumed that he" for varying levels of formality and emphasis. Be mindful of the context to ensure clarity and strength in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he is thought to

Replaces "believed" with "thought", implying a slightly less formal assessment or consideration.

it is widely accepted that he

Highlights the broad acceptance of the belief, implying strong agreement.

the assumption is that he

Focuses on the existence of an assumption, framing the statement in terms of a general belief.

it is presumed that he

Shifts to a more formal and distanced perspective, using "presumed" to indicate an assumption based on evidence.

he is considered to be

Uses "considered" to suggest a more formal evaluation or judgment.

he is understood to be

Suggests a common understanding or agreement about the person's status or actions.

people think he is

Offers a less formal, more direct attribution of the belief to "people."

reports indicate he is

Attributes the belief to specific reports, providing a source for the information.

it is alleged that he

Emphasizes that the statement is an allegation, which may not be proven.

he is rumored to be

Indicates that the information is based on rumors or unverified reports.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "he is believed" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "it is presumed that he" or "he is considered to be", which convey a sense of authority and distance.

What's the difference between "he is believed" and "he is known"?

"He is believed" implies that there's a widely held belief but not necessarily concrete evidence, while "he is known" suggests there's established knowledge or evidence to support the claim. Consider also using similar alternatives like "he is thought to".

Is "he is believed to be" grammatically correct?

Yes, "he is believed to be" is grammatically correct. It follows the structure of passive voice constructions and is commonly used to express an opinion or assumption without stating it as a fact.

When should I use "he is believed" instead of "people believe"?

Use "he is believed" when you want to emphasize the subject of the belief rather than the people holding the belief, or when the source of the belief is unknown or general. Using "people think he is" puts emphasis on the collective opinion.