reportedly believed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "reportedly believed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when conveying information that is based on reports or claims, indicating that the belief is not confirmed but is widely accepted or stated. Example: "The new policy changes are reportedly believed to improve employee productivity significantly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

Trump also reportedly believed that angering Europe was a "secondary benefit" of pulling out of the accord.

The New Yorker

The CPA head reportedly believed that the Iraqi opposition was too disorganised to run the country, and that only a strong manager like himself could handle Iraq's problems.

The Economist

Mr. Ortega reportedly believed that Mr. Obama, who was traveling at the time of the shooting, was the Antichrist, a belief that may have been fueled by a movie that features conspiracy theories about the federal government.

The New York Times

Some reportedly believed the email to have been genuine at first – only to react with fury when they realised their employer was making light of their out-of-hour workloads.

Independent

Cherif and his older sibling Said, 34, were reportedly believed to have been hiding out in a social housing complex in Reims, a city north-east of Paris, before they were thought to have gone on the run.

Independent

"Pre-emption was the theoretical underpinning of the recent attack on Syria, too," he said, referring to Israel's attack last month on what it reportedly believed was a nuclear facility supplied by North Korea.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

Britain reportedly believes the programme restarted in 2004 or 2005.

The Economist

Police reportedly believe the alcohol came from an illegal distillery located in a village called Mograhat.

Independent

Some of the PAD protesters reportedly believe their sit-in has the crown's tacit backing.

The Economist

Intelligence agencies reportedly believe 400-600 Britons have also gone to the region to fight.

The Guardian

Police reportedly believe that a black market dealer in antique manuscripts may have commissioned the robbery.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "reportedly believed" when you want to distance yourself from the veracity of the belief, indicating that it is based on reports rather than confirmed fact. This is especially useful in journalistic or objective writing.

Common error

Avoid excessive use of passive constructions with "reportedly believed", which can make your writing sound vague. Instead, consider restructuring the sentence to attribute the belief to a specific source or actor when possible.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "reportedly believed" functions as a reporting verb phrase. It introduces information attributed to a source, indicating that the belief is reported but not necessarily confirmed. As Ludwig AI highlights, it's a way of presenting information based on claims.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

74%

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Science

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "reportedly believed" is a common and grammatically correct way to convey information attributed to a source without asserting its absolute truth. As Ludwig AI confirms, it functions as a reporting verb phrase, commonly used in news and media contexts to maintain neutrality. When using this phrase, consider attributing the belief to a specific source to avoid vagueness. Alternatives like "allegedly thought" or "claimed to believe" may be appropriate depending on the specific nuance desired.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reportedly assumed

Uses a different verb to express a similar conveyance of unconfirmed belief.

allegedly thought

Emphasizes a claim that is not yet proven, suggesting doubt.

supposedly assumed

Implies the belief may be based on hearsay or speculation.

claimed to believe

Highlights the act of making a claim, rather than the belief itself.

ostensibly considered

Suggests the belief is presented outwardly, possibly concealing the true belief.

purportedly thought

Formally indicates a reported belief of questionable validity.

was understood to believe

Implies the belief was a general understanding among people.

was rumored to believe

Indicates the belief stems from unofficial sources and is not verified.

it was suggested that they believed

Indicates a hinted or indirect expression of the belief.

it is said they believed

Implies that the belief is a popular narrative.

FAQs

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

"Reportedly believed" is used to convey that information comes from reports but isn't necessarily verified. For example: "The CEO "reportedly believed" the merger would increase profits."

What phrases are similar to "reportedly believed"?

Similar phrases include "allegedly thought", "supposedly assumed", or "claimed to believe". The best alternative depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "believed" or "reportedly believed"?

Use "believed" when you are confident in the veracity of the belief. Use "reportedly believed" when the belief is based on reports and you want to distance yourself from confirming its truth.

What's the difference between "reportedly believed" and "it is believed that"?

"Reportedly believed" usually refers to a specific individual or group holding a belief, while "it is believed that" suggests a more widespread or general belief. Both indicate the information is not definitively proven.