is widely believed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is widely believed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a common perception or opinion held by many people regarding a particular topic or idea. Example: "It is widely believed that regular exercise contributes to better mental health."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This is widely believed amongst students.

Independent

It is widely believed he killed himself.

Independent

Apple is widely believed to have both.

The New York Times - Tech

Warner is widely believed to have voted for Russia.

The Guardian - Sport

(Trump is widely believed to be dissatisfied with Tillerson).

The New Yorker

Perhaps his confidence isn't as great as is widely believed.

The Guardian - Film

This policy is widely believed to have destroyed Zimbabwe's economy.

The New Yorker

It is widely believed that group behaviour is beneficial.

Nature

Alcohol is widely believed to increase impulsive behavior.

Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior

SOCIAL mobility is widely believed to be falling.

The Economist

It is widely believed that a good principal is the key to a successful school.

Stanford University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "is widely believed", ensure that you're not perpetuating misinformation. Even if something is commonly accepted, verify its accuracy, especially in formal writing.

Common error

Avoid using "is widely believed" as a substitute for evidence or research. Always strive to support the statement with credible sources or data, even if it seems intuitively true.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is widely believed" functions as an introductory expression. It prefaces a statement by indicating that the statement reflects a common or popular belief, setting the stage for further elaboration or argumentation. As Ludwig AI shows, this phrase appears across a variety of contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

30%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Unknown/unmatched sources

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "is widely believed" is a versatile phrase employed to introduce statements reflecting common perceptions across various domains. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically sound and commonly used, particularly in news, scientific, and academic contexts. While frequently used, it's important to verify the accuracy of the statements it introduces, as highlighted in the writing guidance. Alternatives such as "is generally accepted" and "is commonly thought" offer subtle variations in meaning and formality, providing writers with options to tailor their language to specific audiences and purposes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is generally accepted

Emphasizes broader acceptance, potentially implying less room for doubt or debate compared to "is widely believed".

is generally considered

Highlights a consensus based on evaluation, which is a slightly more active assessment than "is widely believed".

is commonly thought

Suggests a more informal and popular perception, whereas "is widely believed" can be more formal.

is popularly understood

Focuses on public understanding, which might not always align with expert or factual agreement as implied by "is widely believed".

is a widespread notion

Highlights the extent of an idea's distribution, perhaps without the depth of conviction suggested by "is widely believed".

is the prevailing view

Implies a dominant opinion, potentially overshadowing minority viewpoints more than "is widely believed" does.

is broadly recognized

Emphasizes the recognition of something, which is more about acknowledgement than belief.

is conventionally understood

Emphasizes traditional or standard understanding, which might not be based on current evidence as "is widely believed" may imply.

is a common assumption

Indicates something taken for granted, which might lack the explicit evidence implied when something "is widely believed".

is often presumed

Suggests a weaker level of certainty; a presumption rather than a strong belief.

FAQs

What does "is widely believed" mean?

The phrase "is widely believed" indicates that a particular idea, concept, or statement is accepted or thought to be true by many people, although not necessarily everyone or proven with certainty.

How can I use "is widely believed" in a sentence?

You can use "is widely believed" to introduce a common assumption or understanding. For example: "It "is widely believed" that regular exercise improves overall health."

What can I say instead of "is widely believed"?

You can use alternatives like "is generally accepted", "is commonly thought", or "is generally considered" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "is widely believed" or "is a proven fact"?

The choice depends on the context. "Is widely believed" suggests a common perception that may or may not be fully supported by evidence. "Is a proven fact" indicates that something has been verified through evidence and is established as true. They are not interchangeable.