know to be

USAGE SUMMARY

"to be" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used as an auxiliary verb to form he passive voice or to express a fact or a habit. For example: The knowledge required to become an engineer is known to be extensive.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

Don't know to be honest.

Independent

The officers know to be truthful.

The New York Times

You know, to be the first one?

The New Yorker

I don't know, to be honest".

The New York Times

But that we know to be impossible.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

You know, to be a better American?

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

The Chinese are known to be gamblers.

The New York Times - Sports

They're known to be violent.

The New Yorker

Mixing metaphors is known to be bad.

The Economist

Gamblers are known to be superstitious.

The New York Times - Sports

Mining towns were known to be rough.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "know to be" to express a state of certainty or established knowledge about something. For example, "This is what I "know to be" true."

Common error

Avoid using "know to be" excessively in overly complex sentences. Simpler phrasing can often improve clarity and readability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "know to be" functions as part of an infinitive clause, often used to express a state of certainty or established understanding. It connects a subject's knowledge with a characteristic or condition, as Ludwig's examples show: "This is what I "know to be" true."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "know to be" is a grammatically sound and commonly used construction for expressing certainty or acknowledged truth. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and offers numerous examples across various contexts, predominantly in news, academic writing, and general knowledge resources. While versatile, it's best used in contexts where asserting a belief as established fact is appropriate. Remembering to avoid overuse and maintaining clarity will ensure effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

recognize as

Emphasizes acknowledgment and understanding of something's true nature or identity.

understand to be

Focuses on comprehension and acceptance of something's character or state.

believe to be

Highlights subjective conviction about something's qualities or attributes.

deem to be

Implies a formal judgment or assessment of something's status or nature.

consider as

Denotes thoughtful evaluation and categorization of something's properties.

perceive as

Refers to sensory or intuitive awareness of something's attributes.

find to be

Highlights the act of discovering or encountering something with specific qualities.

establish as

Focuses on the process of confirming or proving something's identity or status.

prove to be

Emphasizes the demonstration of something's qualities through evidence or argument.

determine to be

Implies a conclusive decision or judgment about something's attributes or status.

FAQs

How can I use "know to be" in a sentence?

Use "know to be" to express something you're certain about, such as "That's what I "believe to be" true" or "This is what I "understand to be" fact."

What are some alternatives to "know to be"?

Alternatives include "recognize as", "believe to be", or "deem to be", depending on the context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it always necessary to include "to be" after "know"?

No, the necessity of "to be" depends on the sentence structure. It's required when expressing something is known to possess a certain quality or status, as in "That's what I "know to be" the truth."

What's the difference between "know to be" and "known to be"?

"Know to be" expresses a current state of certainty, while "known to be" indicates something is generally recognized or established. For example, "I "know to be" true what she said" versus "She is "known to be" a reliable source".