they are seen

USAGE SUMMARY

"they are seen" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is the passive voice of the verb "see" and indicates that the subject (they) is the object of the action (seen). It is often used to describe something that is observed or noticed by someone else. Example: "The children are seen playing in the park every day." This sentence means that someone else has noticed or observed the children playing in the park. Another example: "The new building is seen as a symbol of progress for the town." This sentence means that the people in the town view the new building as a symbol of progress.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They are seen as people without rights.

The New York Times

They are seen as entertainment," she said.

The New York Times

They are seen as richer.

The Guardian

They are seen to the right.

Stanford University

Now they are seen as crucial allies.

Yale University

They are seen as loonies or harpies.

The New York Times - Sports

Instead, they are seen as aid recipients".

The Guardian

They are seen as a staple.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Instead they are seen to be impertinent.

The Guardian - Business

Now they are seen as classics.

The Guardian

They are seen as divinely inspired premonitions.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "they are seen", ensure the context clearly indicates who is doing the seeing. This helps avoid ambiguity and strengthens the sentence's clarity.

Common error

While "they are seen" is grammatically correct, overuse of the passive voice can make your writing sound weak or indirect. Consider whether an active voice construction would be more impactful and direct, such as specifying who is doing the seeing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they are seen" functions as a passive construction, indicating that the subject is the recipient of an action (being seen). Ludwig's examples illustrate its use in describing perception or observation by an unspecified agent.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Academia

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "they are seen" is a versatile and grammatically sound passive construction, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. Its primary function is to describe how a subject is perceived or viewed, often without specifying the agent of perception. Predominantly found in news media, academic writing, and scientific publications, its register remains largely neutral. While incredibly common, careful consideration should be given to avoid overusing the passive voice, opting for active constructions when a more direct and impactful statement is desired. Alternatives like "they are perceived" or "they are viewed" can offer nuanced variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they are perceived

Replaces "seen" with "perceived", emphasizing subjective understanding or impression rather than simple visibility.

they are viewed

Substitutes "seen" with "viewed", highlighting a specific perspective or way of looking at something.

they are regarded

Uses "regarded" instead of "seen", focusing on the estimation or opinion held about something.

they are considered

Replaces "seen" with "considered", emphasizing a more thoughtful or deliberate evaluation.

they are noticed

Swaps "seen" with "noticed", focusing on the act of something coming to someone's attention.

they are recognized

Uses "recognized" instead of "seen", highlighting the acknowledgement or acceptance of something.

they are observed

Substitutes "seen" with "observed", suggesting a more formal or scientific act of watching.

they are apparent

Replaces "they are seen" with "they are apparent", indicates obviousness or easy visibility.

they are visible

Uses "visible" instead of "seen", simply stating that something is capable of being seen.

they are understood

Replaces "seen" with "understood", focusing on comprehension or grasping the meaning of something.

FAQs

How can I use "they are seen" in a sentence?

You can use "they are seen" to describe how a group or things are perceived by others. For example, "In the media, "politicians" are often seen as untrustworthy." or "Abstract art is seen as a form of expression by some and as meaningless by others".

What's the difference between "they are seen" and "they are viewing"?

"They are seen" is passive, meaning they are the object of someone else's viewing. "They are viewing" is active, meaning they are the ones doing the viewing.

What can I say instead of "they are seen"?

Alternatives include "they are perceived", "they are viewed", or "they are regarded", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use active or passive voice when describing how something is perceived?

It depends on the context. Passive voice with "they are seen" can be useful when the perceiver is unknown or unimportant. Active voice is stronger when you want to emphasize who is doing the perceiving.