professed to be

USAGE SUMMARY

'professed to be' is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to express that someone has stated or described themselves as having a certain quality. For example: "He professed to be an experienced hunter, yet his skills were far from impressive."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Mr Buffett professed to be taken aback.

The Economist

He professed to be taken aback.

The Economist

He professed to be amused.

The New York Times - Arts

Mr. McManus, though, professed to be unaware.

The New York Times - Arts

They professed to be as puzzled as he was.

The New Yorker

The lead drummer professed to be an actual witch doctor.

The New York Times - Arts

Sveistrup professed to be unconcerned about such criticisms.

The New Yorker

Both sides professed to be satisfied with the outcome.

The New York Times

The Bush Administration professed to be taking similar precautions.

The New Yorker

Kasiak, a Russian, professed to be a Communist.

The New Yorker

Both sides professed to be pleased with the outcome.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "professed to be" when you want to convey that someone has openly stated or declared a certain attribute or belief, but without necessarily implying that it is genuinely held or verifiable. It's useful when reporting claims where skepticism might be warranted.

Common error

While versatile, relying too heavily on "professed to be" can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your language by using synonyms like "claimed", "declared", or "represented themselves as" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "professed to be" functions as a verb phrase used to indicate someone's declared, but not necessarily proven, state or identity. Ludwig examples show it applied across diverse subjects making claims. This use reflects a subtle detachment from the claim's validity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

83%

Science

8%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "professed to be" is a versatile verb phrase used to report someone's declared attribute or belief, with a subtle implication that the claim might not be entirely accurate or verifiable. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly found in news, media, and science contexts. While offering a neutral tone, it's important to balance its usage with synonyms such as "claimed", "declared", or "represented themselves as" for writing that is both informative and engaging. Avoid overusing the phrase, and instead, be mindful of the subtle connotations each alternative can bring to the table.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

claimed to be

This alternative has a slightly more neutral tone than "professed", lacking the nuance of outward declaration.

declared to be

This alternative suggests a more formal and explicit announcement of a particular state or quality.

represented themselves as

This phrase emphasizes the act of self-portrayal or the image someone is trying to project.

purported to be

This alternative carries a hint of doubt or skepticism about the truthfulness of the claim.

alleged to be

This option is often used in legal or journalistic contexts to indicate an unproven assertion.

avowed to be

This phrase implies a strong and open declaration of a belief or characteristic.

represented as

This alternative focuses on how someone or something is portrayed, rather than a direct claim.

maintained to be

This implies a consistent and persistent assertion, even in the face of potential doubt.

posed as

This suggests deception or an attempt to imitate someone or something else.

held themselves out as

This phrase indicates that someone presented themselves in a particular way to others.

FAQs

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

You can use "professed to be" to indicate someone's declared state or identity, as in "He "professed to be" a doctor, but his credentials were fake".

What are some alternatives to "professed to be"?

Alternatives include "claimed to be", "declared to be", or "represented themselves as", each carrying slightly different connotations.

Is it better to use "professed to be" or "claimed to be"?

"Professed to be" suggests an open declaration, while "claimed to be" is more neutral and doesn't necessarily imply an outward expression of the claim. The best choice depends on the specific context.

When might using "professed to be" be more appropriate than "said to be"?

"Professed to be" is suitable when the subject has directly stated the attribute, whereas "said to be" implies that the information comes from an external source. "He "professed to be" a vegetarian" means he himself stated it, while "He is "said to be" a vegetarian" implies others have stated it about him.