it believed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it believed" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be an incomplete thought or a misphrasing of "it is believed" or "it was believed." Example: "It is believed that the project will be completed by the end of the month."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

At least one bookstore said it believed its event with Mr. Posnanski was still on.

The New York Times

It also named organisations and firms it believed supported its position, including some supermarkets.

Independent

In its statement, Toll Brothers said it believed that the choppy housing market was gradually calming.

The New York Times

It indicated that it believed at least eight of its US patents had been infringed.

BBC

It believed, correctly, that progress is not possible without standards.

The New Yorker

Worse, it believed the intruder had been there before.

The New York Times - Tech

Navigenics said it believed it was in compliance with regulations.

The New York Times - Health

-What era was it believed to be from?

The New York Times

It also said that it believed that Cardura was safe.

The New York Times

It believed in seeing the future by building it.

The New York Times

It believed Caring was worth up to £500m ($762m) worldwide.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing, always ensure verbs agree with their subjects in tense and number. Replace the ungrammatical "it believed" with "it was believed" or a similar construction to maintain clarity and correctness.

Common error

Avoid using "it believed" as it incorrectly conjugates the verb. Always double-check that the verb form matches the subject and intended tense. Consider using "it was believed" or restructuring the sentence for grammatical accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it believed" functions as an incorrect verb phrase. Grammatically, it requires an auxiliary verb to form the past passive voice (e.g., "it was believed"). As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase does not follow standard grammatical rules.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "it believed" appears frequently, particularly in news and media, it is grammatically incorrect. The correct form would be "it was believed" or a similar construction using an auxiliary verb. Ludwig AI marks this phrase as incorrect in standard written English. When writing, prioritize grammatical accuracy and consider using alternative phrases like "it thought" or "it considered" to ensure clarity and maintain credibility. Always ensure your verb tenses are correct.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was believed

Passive voice construction corrects the grammatical error by adding the auxiliary verb 'was'.

it is believed

Present tense passive voice, indicating a current belief.

they believed

Changes the subject to 'they' and corrects the verb conjugation to match.

it thought

Uses 'thought' as a past tense verb, offering a more direct alternative.

it considered

Replaces 'believed' with 'considered', implying a more thoughtful assessment.

it assumed

Implies a presumption or expectation rather than a firm belief.

it understood

Indicates comprehension or awareness of a situation.

it had faith

Suggests a strong conviction or trust in something.

its belief was

Restructures the sentence to emphasize the belief itself.

it was of the opinion

Formal alternative indicating a held viewpoint or judgment.

FAQs

How can I correctly use "it believed" in a sentence?

The phrase "it believed" is grammatically incorrect. Instead, use "it was believed", "it is believed", or rephrase the sentence to use a different verb construction.

What's the difference between "it believed" and "it was believed"?

"It believed" is grammatically incorrect. "It was believed" is the correct passive voice construction, indicating that something was thought or understood by the subject. Consider using alternatives like "it thought" or "it considered".

Is "it believed" ever correct in formal writing?

No, "it believed" is generally considered incorrect in formal writing. Opt for alternatives like "it was believed", "it is believed", or a different phrasing that ensures grammatical accuracy.

What are some alternatives to using "it believed" in my writing?

You can replace "it believed" with phrases like "it was believed", "it is believed", or use verbs like "it thought", "it considered", or "it assumed" depending on the context.