or believed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "or believed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when presenting an alternative perspective or possibility regarding a statement or claim. Example: "The artifact was thought to be ancient, or believed to have been created in the 18th century."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Nothing was ever done, or believed, by halves.

The Guardian

Or believed that Augustin would not recognise him.

The Guardian - Books

Who cared if anything anyone said or believed was "real"?

The New York Times - Magazine

"I never accepted or believed that resignation," she said.

The New York Times - Sports

And if they refuse, nothing they say is to be taken seriously or believed by anyone.

The Guardian - Opinion

How tragic if, because of the false ones, those amazing tales are never read — or believed.

The New York Times

And he knew why he had lost out, or believed he knew: because he is white.

The New York Times

Few others cared about what they felt or believed or experienced.

The New Yorker

Nobody believed it was a realistic threat or believed there was imminent danger".

The New York Times

The shifting understanding of anthrax also created doubt about just how much the epidemiologists should be trusted or believed.

The New York Times

The same went for those who said 4-4-2 was "yesterday's formation" or believed that Ameobi was washed-up.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "or believed" to introduce an alternative viewpoint or possibility that might not be definitively proven but is considered plausible. This adds nuance to your writing and acknowledges different perspectives.

Common error

Avoid using "or believed" redundantly without providing clear context or reason for the alternative belief. Always ensure the alternative belief is relevant and adds value to the sentence, rather than merely cluttering it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "or believed" functions as a conjunction introducing an alternative perspective or possibility. It connects a statement with another potential belief related to the same subject. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a usable phrase for presenting alternatives.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

26%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "or believed" serves as a versatile conjunction for introducing alternative perspectives or possibilities. It is grammatically correct and widely used, as supported by Ludwig AI's analysis. While frequently found in contexts like News & Media and Science, it also appears in other sources, indicating broad applicability. When using "or believed", ensure that the alternative is relevant and adds value to the sentence, avoiding redundancy. By offering alternative viewpoints, "or believed" adds nuance and robustness to statements.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

or considered

Replaces 'believed' with 'considered', suggesting a more thoughtful evaluation rather than a firm belief.

or thought

Substitutes 'believed' with 'thought', indicating a less assertive level of conviction.

or presumed

Replaces 'believed' with 'presumed', suggesting an assumption based on probability.

or suspected

Replaces 'believed' with 'suspected', implying a belief based on limited evidence or intuition.

or imagined

Substitutes 'believed' with 'imagined', indicating a possibility that may not be based on reality.

or supposed

Replaces 'believed' with 'supposed', suggesting a common but potentially unconfirmed belief.

or deemed

Substitutes 'believed' with 'deemed', indicating a more formal judgment or assessment.

or perceived

Replaces 'believed' with 'perceived', focusing on individual understanding or interpretation.

or assumed

Substitutes 'believed' with 'assumed', which conveys a taken-for-granted point with little evidence.

or understood

Replaces 'believed' with 'understood', conveying a grasp on a concept or idea rather than a strict conviction.

FAQs

How can I use "or believed" in a sentence?

Use "or believed" to introduce an alternate perspective or possibility that isn't confirmed but is deemed plausible. For example: "The treasure was said to be buried, "or believed" to be hidden, in the old castle ruins."

What are some alternatives to "or believed"?

Alternatives include phrases like "or considered", "or thought", or "or presumed", which can be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is there a difference between "or believed" and "or thought"?

"Or believed" suggests a stronger level of conviction, while "or thought" implies a more casual or less certain consideration.

When is it appropriate to use "or believed" in formal writing?

It's appropriate when you need to acknowledge an alternative viewpoint or understanding that may not be officially verified but is still relevant to the discussion. For instance, "The document was interpreted as evidence, "or believed" to be evidence, in the court case."