it is alleged to be

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it is alleged to be" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing claims or accusations that have not been proven or confirmed. Example: "The defendant is in court because it is alleged to be involved in fraudulent activities."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

And is privatisation quite the panacea it is alleged to be?

The Guardian - Opinion

The Guaraní were warlike and took captives to be sacrificed and, it is alleged, to be eaten.

Britannica

There now are many dwellings near the cemetery, but it is alleged to be in no way injurious to health, or offensive, or otherwise an interference with the enjoyment of property or life.

Cornell University

It is alleged to be about Pete Doherty, in which case it also counts as the most stupid thing ever written about Pete Doherty: some going given both the tabloids and the stuff that gets posted on the Babyshambles forums.

The Guardian - Music

The intuitionist conception of goodness may be regarded as mysterious because it is alleged to be unanalysable or indefinable.

SEP

It is alleged to be a palace built for the personal use of Vladimir Putin, with massive and illegal use of state funds.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

It was alleged to be inaccurate and misquoted its key academic source.

The Guardian

That was first time it was alleged to be, to have been a fund-raiser".

The New York Times

That was the first time that I learned it was alleged to be, to have been a fund-raiser.

The New York Times

Since it's alleged to be an encyclopedia, active participants often want the prestige and imputed influence which comes from such intellectual endeavors.

The Guardian - Tech

Vivaldi worked for many years as music master of the Ospedale della Pietà in Venice, which was full of teenage nuns, some in training, it was alleged, to be mistresses of the papal nuncio.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it is alleged to be" when you want to report a claim or accusation without stating it as a fact. This is particularly useful in journalism and legal writing where neutrality is important.

Common error

Avoid using "it is alleged to be" when you actually have concrete evidence. This phrase implies uncertainty, so using it when certainty exists weakens your argument.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it is alleged to be" functions as a hedge or a disclaimer, indicating that the information being presented is an unproven claim or accusation. As Ludwig AI shows, this phrase is commonly used to report information without endorsing its truthfulness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it is alleged to be" is a valuable phrase for reporting unconfirmed information, providing a degree of separation between the speaker and the assertion. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and frequently used in news, encyclopedias, and scientific contexts. When using this phrase, remember that it conveys uncertainty and that a more definitive statement should be used when you possess concrete evidence. Alternatives like "it is claimed to be" or "it is purported to be" can be considered based on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it is claimed to be

Replaces "alleged" with "claimed", suggesting a slightly stronger assertion without proof.

it is purported to be

Uses "purported" to imply that something is presented as true but might not be.

it is rumored to be

Indicates the information is circulating as a rumor, lacking concrete evidence.

it is believed to be

Suggests a general belief or opinion, without necessarily implying doubt or suspicion.

it is thought to be

Similar to "believed", but perhaps based on more casual consideration.

it is understood to be

Implies a general agreement or assumption, though not necessarily proven.

it is suggested that it is

Uses "suggested" to make a milder, less direct assertion.

the claim is that it is

Focuses on the existence of a claim, without directly endorsing or refuting it.

the story is that it is

Framing information as a story implies a degree of unreliability.

reports indicate it is

Attributing the information to reports suggests a basis in documentation, but doesn't guarantee accuracy.

FAQs

How can I use "it is alleged to be" in a sentence?

Use "it is alleged to be" to introduce a claim or accusation that has not been proven. For instance, "The company "it is alleged to be" involved in illegal activities".

What's the difference between "it is alleged to be" and "it is claimed to be"?

"It is alleged to be" often implies a formal accusation, possibly in a legal context, while "it is claimed to be" is a more general term for an unproven assertion.

Are there formal alternatives to "it is alleged to be"?

Yes, more formal alternatives include "it is purported to be" or framing the statement as "The claim is that..."

When should I avoid using "it is alleged to be"?

Avoid using "it is alleged to be" when you have definitive proof of something. The phrase suggests doubt, so using it with known facts can be misleading.