it was estimated to be

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was estimated to be" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing approximations or assessments regarding quantities, values, or timeframes. Example: "According to the report, it was estimated to be around 100 million dollars in revenue for the year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

At its height it was estimated to be behind almost half of all global spam.

BBC

OarFCB11 was excluded from chromosome 2 because it was estimated to be more than 50 cM away from its closest neighbouring marker (INHA).

BMC Genomics

In 2007, it was estimated to be 284 million tons.

The New York Times

It was estimated to be worth $108 million over five years.

The Washington Post

Two years ago it was estimated to be £1.4m; now it is expected to reach £2.7m.

The Guardian

Joyce said it was estimated to be between 80 and 100 years old.

The Guardian

It was estimated to be worth several million dollars — far more, in all likelihood, than the treasured archive.

The New Yorker

The cost to access the pit and empty it was estimated to be $13,000 and would not provide a long term solution.

Cornell University

It was estimated to be responsible for 58.2 million years lived with disability in 1990, increasing to 83 million in 2010.

Best Practice & Research Clinical Rheumatology

It was estimated to be the lengthiest, most costly insanity case in British legal history, running at two guineas a minute.

The Guardian - Books

It had been found near the bottom of the trench, so it was estimated to be about seventy thousand years old.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was estimated to be" when reporting on data or findings that involve calculations or approximations, maintaining a neutral and objective tone.

Common error

Avoid using "it was estimated to be" when the figure is known precisely. This phrase suggests an approximation, so using it with exact values undermines your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was estimated to be" serves as a passive reporting verb, indicating that an approximate value or quantity has been determined. Ludwig AI suggests that this phrase introduces an assessment derived from some calculation or approximation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Academia

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was estimated to be" is a common and grammatically correct way to introduce approximate values or quantities. As Ludwig AI confirms, it functions as a passive reporting verb and is widely used across news, scientific, and formal business contexts. When using this phrase, ensure the estimation's source is clear and avoid using it for precise values. Alternatives include "it was projected to be" or "it was approximated to be", depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was projected to be

Replaces "estimated" with "projected", implying a forecast based on current trends.

it was approximated to be

Substitutes "estimated" with "approximated", suggesting a less precise calculation.

it was calculated to be

Replaces "estimated" with "calculated", emphasizing a mathematical determination.

it was assessed to be

Substitutes "estimated" with "assessed", implying a formal evaluation or appraisal.

it was thought to be

Replaces "estimated" with "thought", indicating a belief or opinion rather than a calculation.

it was gauged to be

Replaces "estimated" with "gauged", suggesting an informal or intuitive assessment.

it was considered to be

Substitutes "estimated" with "considered", implying a judgment or evaluation.

the estimation was that it was

Reformulates the sentence to emphasize the estimation itself.

the figure was estimated at

Changes the structure to focus on the figure being estimated.

an estimate placed it at

Reformulates the sentence to begin with "an estimate".

FAQs

How can I use "it was estimated to be" in a sentence?

Use "it was estimated to be" to introduce an approximate value or quantity. For instance, "It was estimated to be around 18,000 people in January 2008".

What are some alternatives to "it was estimated to be"?

You can use phrases like "it was projected to be", "it was approximated to be", or "it was calculated to be" depending on the context.

Is "it was estimated at" grammatically correct instead of "it was estimated to be"?

Both "it was estimated at" and "it was estimated to be" are grammatically correct, but they are used in slightly different contexts. "It was estimated at" is used when referring to a specific value, while "it was estimated to be" is used when describing what something is approximated to be.

What's the difference between "it was estimated to be" and "it is estimated to be"?

"It was estimated to be" refers to an estimation made in the past, while "it is estimated to be" refers to a current estimation. For example, "In 2012 it was estimated to be one in ten", versus "Currently, it is estimated to be one in eight".