it speculated that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it speculated that" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct form would be "it is speculated that." Example: "It is speculated that the new policy will lead to significant changes in the industry."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

The first naturalist to examine it speculated that its owner had been a sea animal and had used its elongated arms as paddles.

The New Yorker

The fish biologist (and veteran beachcomber) who found it speculated that, based on its condition, the wreck was less than a month old.

The New Yorker

It speculated that compounds in semen have antidepressant effects.

The New York Times - Health

It speculated that diminishing ice in the warming Arctic might have contributed to their fate.

The New York Times

It speculated that Deanne had taken her own life after learning that her mother was suffering from a medical condition.

The Guardian

However, it speculated that the ISI could have been motivated kill Ms Jahangir "to quiet public criticism of the military".

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

However, it speculates that the Scottish people will consider "economic factors" when it comes to their voting decision.

BBC

After no word was heard on the album, it was speculated that it had been scrapped.

Wikipedia

It is speculated that if repetitive DNA is transposable, it may create novel genes [62].

Genomics, Proteomics and Bioinformatics

It is speculated that the photodecomposition proceeds through the initial formation of radical cations.

Polymer

It is speculated that the motion of polymer chains was enhanced with the diffusion of CO2.

Polymer

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the passive voice construction "it is speculated that" for grammatically correct and formal writing. This is widely accepted and avoids the error of using "it speculated that".

Common error

Avoid using "it speculated that" in formal writing. Always use the passive form "it is speculated that" to maintain grammatical correctness and clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it speculated that" functions as a clause introducing a speculation or conjecture. However, it's grammatically flawed. As Ludwig AI highlights, the correct form is "it is speculated that."

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

30%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "it speculated that" appears in various sources, including news and media, Ludwig AI points out that it's grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "it is speculated that". This construction should be used to express conjecture in a grammatically sound manner, especially in formal writing. Always opt for "it is speculated that" or alternative phrases like "it is believed that" or "it is suggested that" to maintain accuracy and clarity. While common in certain contexts, grammatical correctness should be prioritized.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it hypothesized that

Replaces "speculated" with "hypothesized", suggesting a more formal, scientific conjecture.

it suggested that

Replaces "speculated" with "suggested", indicating a milder form of conjecture.

it posited that

Replaces "speculated" with "posited", implying a more assertive proposition but still speculative.

it surmised that

Replaces "speculated" with "surmised", indicating a conclusion reached with limited evidence.

it inferred that

Replaces "speculated" with "inferred", suggesting a conclusion drawn from available information.

it believed that

Replaces "speculated" with "believed", indicating a conviction without necessarily having concrete proof.

it presumed that

Replaces "speculated" with "presumed", implying an assumption based on probability.

it assumed that

Replaces "speculated" with "assumed", suggesting taking something for granted without proof.

it imagined that

Replaces "speculated" with "imagined", connoting a thought that may not be based in reality.

it predicted that

Replaces "speculated" with "predicted", focusing on forecasting a future outcome.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "it speculated that"?

The grammatically correct way to phrase this is "it is speculated that". The original phrasing is considered incorrect in standard written English.

What are some alternatives to "it is speculated that"?

Alternatives include "it is believed that", "it is thought that", or "it is suggested that", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "it speculated that" formal or informal?

While "it speculated that" appears in some news articles, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect for formal writing. "It is speculated that" is more appropriate for formal contexts.

What is the difference between "it speculated that" and "it is speculated that"?

The phrase "it speculated that" is grammatically incorrect. The passive voice construction "it is speculated that" is the correct and accepted form, indicating a speculation made by an unspecified entity.