it is believed

USAGE SUMMARY

'it is believed' is a perfectly acceptable phrase in written English.
It is usually used to introduce a statement of opinion or fact. For example, "It is believed that the economy will soon recover from the pandemic."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It is believed that its activity is synergized by polyphenols.

Nanoscale Research Letters

It is believed Boko Haram uses Gwoza as its headquarters.

BBC

And it is believed, that..

Cornell University

It is believed he'll play the villain.

Independent

It is believed to be a precedent.

The New York Times

It is believed she killed herself.

The Guardian

It is believed she hanged herself.

The Guardian

It is believed that co-morbidity monotonically increases with age.

Princeton University

It is believed that this goal has been achieved.

Fluid Phase Equilibria

It is believed to be caused mainly by shadow hiding.

Cornell University

It is believed that these morphologies are also self-accommodated.

Acta Materialia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider stronger, more direct verbs if the belief is based on solid evidence. Alternatives like "studies show" or "experts confirm" can add more weight to your claims.

Common error

Avoid overuse of passive constructions like "it is believed", as they can weaken your writing. Actively state who holds the belief when possible: "Researchers believe..." or "Many experts believe...".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it is believed" serves as an introductory clause, softening the assertion of the main statement. According to Ludwig AI, it's frequently employed to present an opinion or a fact that isn't definitively proven, creating a sense of distance between the speaker and the idea.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Science

26%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Wiki

9%

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it is believed" is a prevalent phrase in English used to introduce a statement of opinion or widely accepted assumption. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and most often encountered in news, scientific, and academic contexts. While versatile, overuse can weaken writing; consider stronger verbs or direct attribution for greater impact. When using "it is believed", make the source of the belief clear, implied or stated, to bolster credibility. Alternatives such as ""it is thought"" or "it is considered" can offer subtle shifts in tone and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it is thought

Changes the verb to "thought", implying a slightly more contemplative consideration.

it is considered

Replaces "believed" with "considered", suggesting a more formal or deliberate assessment.

it is assumed

Substitutes "believed" with "assumed", indicating a presumption without concrete evidence.

it is presumed

Similar to "assumed", but with a slightly more legal or formal connotation.

people think

Offers a more direct and informal way to express a widely held opinion.

it's the general consensus

Highlights the agreement among a group of people, rather than individual belief.

the prevailing view is

Indicates that something is the dominant or most accepted opinion.

one theory suggests

Introduces a specific theory or hypothesis.

evidence suggests

Focuses on the supporting evidence rather than the belief itself.

it would appear that

Adds a layer of observation and deduction to the statement.

FAQs

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

Use "it is believed" to introduce a statement of opinion or something generally accepted as true, for example, "It is believed that exercise is beneficial for health".

What's the difference between "it is believed" and "it is thought"?

While both phrases express an opinion, "it is believed" implies a stronger conviction, whereas ""it is thought"" suggests a more tentative or reflective consideration.

What can I say instead of "it is believed" to sound more formal?

To sound more formal, you could use phrases like "it is considered", "it is presumed", or "the prevailing view is."

Is it grammatically correct to start a sentence with "it is believed"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct to start a sentence with "it is believed". It's a common construction used to introduce an assertion or commonly held view.