it is not believed to be

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it is not believed to be" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing doubt or uncertainty about a particular belief or assumption regarding a subject. Example: "Despite the rumors, it is not believed to be true that the company is going bankrupt."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

However, while the RIPK1 kinase domain is well known for its ability to activate the necroptotic pathway, it is not believed to be required to cause apoptosis (Vandenabeele et al., 2010).

eLife

Premier Foods would not discuss how much it paid the Bond family, but it is not believed to be substantial.

Independent

SAIC has been subpoenaed in the corruption case, but it is not believed to be a target of any investigation.

The New York Times

Coughlin did not know the extent of the injury, but it is not believed to be serious.

The New York Times - Sports

It is not believed to be a pervasive problem, but some people in baseball acknowledge it exists.

The New York Times - Sports

experiments and the parameters in the Gibbs-Thomson equation that it is not believed to be suitable for routine quantitative analysis.

Polymer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

Thankfully, he was not believed.

Independent

Women were not believed".

Vice

And remember, seeing is not believing--believing is seeing!

WikiHow

"I believe it is not good enough".

The New Yorker

Sceptics believe it is not particularly so.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it is not believed to be" to express uncertainty or to convey that a widely held assumption might be incorrect. This construction is useful in formal writing or when presenting information where precision and neutrality are important.

Common error

While grammatically sound, "it is not believed to be" can sound overly formal in casual conversation. Opt for simpler alternatives like "I don't think it is" or "it's probably not" for a more natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it is not believed to be" functions as an expression of uncertainty or doubt. It's used to indicate that something is questionable or lacks definitive proof, as supported by examples Ludwig provides.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

39%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it is not believed to be" is a common construction used to express uncertainty or skepticism regarding a particular statement or assumption. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. It is most frequently found in "News & Media" and "Science" sources, implying a formal and neutral tone. While correct, it can sometimes sound overly formal in casual conversation. Consider more straightforward alternatives depending on the context, such as ""it is not thought to be"".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it is not thought to be

Replaces "believed" with "thought", a direct synonym, maintaining the same structure and meaning.

it is not considered to be

Substitutes "believed" with "considered", implying a formal assessment rather than a personal opinion.

it is not deemed to be

Uses "deemed" in place of "believed", suggesting a judgment or official perspective.

it is not regarded as being

Emphasizes how something is generally viewed, rather than specifically believed, changing the focus slightly.

it is not understood to be

Shifts the focus to understanding rather than belief, highlighting a lack of comprehension or knowledge.

it is not assumed to be

Replaces "believed" with "assumed", indicating a lack of concrete evidence or proof.

it is not anticipated to be

Focuses on future expectations rather than current beliefs, altering the temporal aspect of the statement.

it is not expected to be

Similar to "anticipated", this emphasizes what is predicted or foreseen, changing the connotation.

it is doubtful that it is

Inverts the sentence structure to express doubt directly, altering the emphasis and tone.

there is no reason to believe it is

Rephrases the statement to highlight the absence of justification for the belief, changing the sentence structure and emphasis.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "it is not believed to be" for variety?

Alternatives include "it is not thought to be", "it is not considered to be", or "it is not expected to be", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "it is not believed to be" formal or informal?

The phrase is generally considered formal and suitable for professional writing, academic papers, or news reports. Simpler phrases may be preferable in casual conversation.

What does "it is not believed to be" imply?

It implies a degree of uncertainty or skepticism about a particular claim or assumption. It suggests that there's a lack of evidence or consensus to support the claim.

When should I use "it is not believed to be" instead of "it is not true"?

"It is not believed to be" is best used when conveying that something is questionable or lacks support, while "it is not true" states a direct contradiction. The former implies uncertainty; the latter, definitive falsehood.