there are said

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "there are said" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used in contexts where one is referring to something that is commonly reported or believed, but it should be structured differently. Example: "There are said to be many benefits to meditation, according to various studies."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

THERE are said to be at least 105 million and maybe as many as 2 billion parking spaces in the United States.

The New York Times

"We don't know how many Becky McClains there are," said Adam M. Finkel, who worked for OSHA both as a regional administrator and a director of health standards.

The New York Times

"I think you could argue about how many missed opportunities there are," said Dr. Alan B. Leichtman, a nephrologist at the University of Michigan.

The New York Times - Health

We need to accept a little the conditions there are," said Marcelo Odebrecht, boss of a construction firm that bears his surname.Mr Odebrecht's appetite for risk is commendable, but governments' reliance on it is not.

The Economist

"Only in the Trump era can you have a debate about how many floors there are," said former Vancouver city planner Brent Toderian.

Vice

And there are said to be more.

The Guardian - Sport

There are said to be 20m weapons in the country.

The Economist

There are said to be 1,700 koans in all.

Encyclopedia Britannica

There are, said officials of the Seminole Nation, immediate openings.

The New York Times

There are said to be about 15 sailboard firms at this year's show.

The New Yorker

With so many capos in jail, there are said to be few veterans left.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While commonly used, consider replacing the phrase "there are said" with more grammatically sound alternatives like "it is said that" or "reports indicate" for clearer and more professional writing.

Common error

Avoid using "there are said" when you can directly attribute the information to a specific source. Direct attribution enhances credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "there are said" acts as an impersonal reporting clause. It introduces information attributed to an unspecified source, indicating that the statement is based on hearsay or general belief rather than verifiable fact. Ludwig flags this construction as grammatically not correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Encyclopedias

5%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "there are said" is frequently used across diverse sources like the News & Media, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically not correct. It functions as an impersonal reporting clause, conveying information from unspecified sources and it is neutral in register. To improve clarity and grammatical correctness, consider replacing it with alternatives like "it is said that", "reports indicate", or similar constructions, especially in formal writing. Attributing information to specific sources enhances credibility and ensures accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it is reported that there are

Replaces the passive construction with a more formal and explicit reporting structure.

it is believed that there are

Emphasizes the element of belief or assumption rather than direct assertion.

it is rumored that there are

Indicates the information is based on hearsay or unconfirmed reports.

sources indicate there are

Attributes the information to specific, though unnamed, sources.

reports suggest there are

Highlights the information comes from formal reports or investigations.

people say there are

Simplifies the phrase to a more conversational tone, attributing the statement to general opinion.

allegedly, there are

Introduces an element of doubt or legal caution, indicating the information is unproven.

supposedly, there are

Similar to 'allegedly', but slightly less formal, suggesting the information is doubtful.

it is claimed that there are

Indicates the information is presented as a fact but might be disputed.

it is understood that there are

Implies the information is commonly known or accepted, though not necessarily verified.

FAQs

Is "there are said" grammatically correct?

While frequently used, "there are said" is often considered grammatically questionable. More acceptable alternatives include phrases like "it is said that" or "reports indicate".

What's a more formal way to say "there are said"?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases such as "it is reported that "it is reported that"", "sources indicate that", or "studies suggest that".

How can I use "there are said" in a sentence?

Although usage is discouraged, an example of this phrase in a sentence could be: "There are said to be many benefits to this approach." However, consider using "It is said that there are many benefits to this approach" instead.

What are some alternatives to "there are said"?

You can use alternatives like "it is believed that", "it is rumored that", or "people say that" depending on the specific context and the degree of certainty you want to convey.