it has been warned

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it has been warned" is not correct in standard English usage.
It is likely intended to convey that a warning has been issued, but the construction is awkward and unclear. Example: "It has been warned that severe weather conditions may affect travel plans."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

CMGI cmgi has admitted that it has been warned by the Securities and Exchange Commission that unless it changes its structure it will have to register as a mutual fund.

Forbes

It has been warned.

The Economist

The BBC should be in little doubt that it has been warned.

The Guardian

It has been warned that the additional traffic that would be generated would push pollution above levels allowed under new EU restrictions.

Independent

Romania says it has been warned it could be excluded from this year's Eurovision song contest after the national television station TVR amassed a debt of €10m (£7.9m) to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).

The Guardian - TV & Radio

It has been warned repeatedly, most recently by Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary general, that its airstrikes in and around Aleppo and elsewhere against civilian targets, hospitals and schools, may constitute war crimes.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

It claims that Lyft investors have been urging Uber to buy its competitors, and that it had been warned Lyft would "go nuclear" if that didn't happen.

TechCrunch

It had been warned that Katrina was coming.

The New York Times

It had been warned that the country's financial casinos were courting disaster.

The New York Times

It had been warned that there would be a civil war and insurgency if it attacked Iraq.

The New York Times

It confirmed it had been warned of the possibility that it would lose about £100m in gifts should the statue be taken down.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Opt for clearer and more direct phrasing such as "a warning has been issued" or "authorities have warned" to enhance readability and impact.

Common error

Avoid overuse of passive constructions like "it has been warned" as it can make your writing sound less direct and less engaging. Using active voice often results in more concise and impactful sentences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it has been warned" functions as a passive construction, indicating that a warning has been given. While understandable, Ludwig AI suggests this phrasing is not the most grammatically sound and more direct alternatives might be preferable. The passive voice construction places emphasis on the action rather than the actor.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Less common in

Academia

1%

Encyclopedias

0.5%

Wiki

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it has been warned" is a passive voice construction used to indicate that a warning has been issued. While commonly found in news and media sources, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically awkward. For clearer and more impactful writing, it's advisable to use direct alternatives such as "a warning has been issued" or "authorities have warned". This ensures better readability and avoids the potential ambiguity associated with passive constructions. By adopting more direct phrasing, you can enhance the clarity and effectiveness of your communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a warning has been issued

Replaces the passive construction with a more direct statement about a warning.

caution has been advised

Emphasizes the act of advising caution rather than a direct warning.

a notification was given

Highlights the act of informing about a potential issue or risk.

they were forewarned

Shifts the focus to the recipient of the warning.

attention was called to

Draws attention to a specific issue or potential danger.

it was brought to their attention

Highlights the act of making someone aware of something.

they received a heads-up

Uses an informal expression for a preliminary warning.

concerns were raised

Indicates that worries or issues were expressed.

the alarm was sounded

Emphasizes a strong, urgent warning.

an alert has been sent out

Focuses on the distribution of a warning message.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "it has been warned"?

You can use alternatives like "a warning has been issued", "authorities have warned", or "they were forewarned" depending on the context.

Is "it has been warned" grammatically correct?

While understandable, "it has been warned" is not the most standard or grammatically sound construction. More direct alternatives like "a warning was issued" or "someone warned" are generally preferred.

How can I make my writing more direct than using "it has been warned"?

To make your writing more direct, use the active voice. For example, instead of "it has been warned that...", say "experts warn that..." or "analysts caution that".

What's the difference between "it has been warned" and "a warning has been issued"?

"It has been warned" is a less common and slightly awkward phrasing. "A warning has been issued" is more direct, grammatically correct, and widely accepted.