it was understood to have

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was understood to have" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when indicating a general consensus or belief about something that is perceived to have occurred or been the case. Example: "It was understood to have been a successful event, despite the challenges faced by the organizers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

It was understood to have remained loyal partly because it had already filmed its expensive Christmas TV adverts.

The Guardian

The losses are certain to continue into this year, because following the rush of summer signings the wage bill will far exceed the £82.6m it was understood to have risen to by 31 May last year.

The Guardian - Sport

I think it's the fact that if a man wrote a book about a family, it was understood to have wider repercussions, to be a metaphorical representation, perhaps of the political process.

The Guardian

It was understood to have been backed by Eurosceptic Tories including former Welsh secretary John Redwood and Steve Baker, who leads the anti-EU group Conservatives for Britain, as well as shadow chancellor John McDonnell – all men are believed to have signed up using cartridge pens dipped in menstrual blood, in a feminist protest.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Native to Asia, it was understood to have been introduced to the US via contaminated wooden packaging.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

It is understood to have sweetened its €22.6bn offer in order to clinch the deal.

The Guardian - Business

Total TV advertising is expected to be ahead by about 6%, and while it is understood to have increased ad revenues, its performance is not up by as much.

The Guardian

It is understood to have been developed through intercepts.

The Guardian

It is understood to have been used in anti-pirate operations off East Africa.

The Guardian

It is understood to have been in talks with Apple to undercut current pricing, but to little avail.

The Guardian - Business

It is understood to have written again to both sides last week, ordering them to stop the public sniping.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it was understood to have", ensure the context clearly indicates who held the understanding and what evidence supports this understanding. This strengthens the credibility of your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "it was understood to have" without providing any supporting evidence or context, as this can weaken your argument and make it seem speculative.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was understood to have" functions as a passive reporting construction. It indicates a generally held belief or assumption about a past event or situation, without explicitly stating who held that belief. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was understood to have" is a grammatically correct passive construction used to express a general belief or assumption about a past event. As indicated by Ludwig AI, it's suitable for conveying information that was widely accepted, though often without explicit attribution. While versatile, its frequency is relatively rare. It's important to ensure that the context clarifies who held this understanding and whether there's supporting evidence. When writing, consider whether more direct or active constructions might enhance clarity and impact. The phrase appears mostly in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was believed to have

Replaces "understood" with "believed", emphasizing the element of belief rather than agreement.

it was perceived to have

Substitutes "understood" with "perceived", focusing on the way something was viewed or interpreted.

it was assumed to have

Changes "understood" to "assumed", suggesting a conclusion reached without concrete proof.

it was known to have

Replaces "understood" with "known", implying a confirmed or established fact.

it had been agreed that it would

Restructures the sentence to emphasize a prior agreement about a future action.

it was generally accepted that it

Replaces "understood" with "generally accepted", indicating widespread agreement.

people generally agreed it

Shifts the focus to people's agreement, rather than a general understanding.

the common consensus was that it

Emphasizes the collective agreement or opinion on a matter.

it was rumored that it

Indicates that information is based on unofficial or unverified information

it was thought to have

Replaces "understood" with "thought", suggesting a more casual or speculative viewpoint

FAQs

How can I use "it was understood to have" in a sentence?

Use "it was understood to have" to indicate a general agreement or belief about something that happened or existed in the past. For example, "It was understood to have been a successful negotiation, although details were not public."

What are some alternatives to "it was understood to have"?

You can use alternatives like "it was believed to have", "it was perceived to have", or "it was assumed to have" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "it was understood to have"?

The phrase itself is in passive voice. While grammatically correct, consider whether active voice might be clearer or more direct. For example, instead of "It was understood to have been a mistake", you could say "They understood it was a mistake" if you know who did the understanding.

What is the difference between "it was understood to have" and "it is understood that"?

"It was understood to have" refers to a past understanding about a completed action, while "it is understood that" refers to a current understanding about a present or future action. For example, "It was understood to have rained last night" versus "It is understood that the meeting will be held tomorrow".