to be deserved

USAGE SUMMARY

"to be deserved" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when describing something that is due or merited, such as recognition, praise, or a reward. For example, "His hard work was finally acknowledged and rewarded, as it deserved to be."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

A. One, it needs to be deserved.

The New York Times

The bad rap used to be deserved: a good Languedoc wine was a rare thing.

The New York Times - Food

It will be easier to achieve where the rewards that go to individuals are generally seen to be deserved.

The Economist

Nor was his notion that a view was something gained through effort – scenery, for him, was something that ought to be deserved.

The Guardian - Books

Some may find this prospect for my country to be deserved, but even they should remember that Russia will retain certain ambitions and nuclear weapons for a long time to come.

The New York Times

The current system leaves a lot to be deserved and a revamping will be much welcomed.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

The people who can't afford to be deserve to be a little more protected".

BBC

These questions would seem to me to be deserving condemnation rather than being committed to paper".

SEP

Start giving the appropriate credit to whom it is deserved.

WikiHow

Two things are deserved to be mentioned.

Boundary Value Problems

This attention appears to be well deserved.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to be deserved" when you want to emphasize that something is rightfully earned or merited due to specific actions or qualities.

Common error

Avoid using "to be deserved" interchangeably with phrases like "to be desired" or "to be needed". "To be deserved" specifically implies a sense of justice or rightfulness based on prior actions or qualities, while the others express want or necessity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to be deserved" functions as a passive infinitive, indicating that something is in a state of rightfully earning or meriting something. It describes a condition where an action or quality warrants a specific outcome or recognition. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatically correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "to be deserved" is a grammatically correct phrase used to indicate that something is rightfully earned or merited, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It appears most frequently in news and media, scientific, and formal business contexts, with a neutral to formal register. When writing, remember to use it when you want to emphasize that something is earned due to specific actions or qualities. Avoid confusing it with similar phrases that express want or necessity, as it specifically implies a sense of justice. Consider alternatives like "to be warranted" or "to be merited" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to be warranted

Replaces "deserved" with "warranted", implying justification or authorization.

to be merited

Uses "merited" instead of "deserved", suggesting a reward or recognition is rightfully earned.

to be justified

Emphasizes the fairness or righteousness of something being received.

to be entitled to

Shifts the focus to having a right or claim to something.

to be worthy of

Highlights the value or quality that makes something deserving.

to be due

Indicates something is owed or expected as a right or natural consequence.

to be appropriate

Suggests something is fitting or suitable for the situation.

to be fitting

Similar to 'appropriate', but emphasizes suitability or harmony with the context.

to be earned

Focuses on the effort or work that results in something being deserved.

to be recompensed

Implies that compensation is warranted for a loss or service

FAQs

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

Use "to be deserved" when describing something that is rightfully earned or merited. For example, "The praise he received was "to be deserved" because of his hard work and dedication".

What's a good alternative to "to be deserved"?

Alternatives include "to be warranted", "to be merited", or "to be justified" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "something is deserved to be"?

The standard and more grammatically sound phrasing is "something deserves to be" or "something is "to be deserved"". The former emphasizes the action, while the latter focuses on the state of being merited.

What is the difference between "to be deserved" and "to be deserving"?

"To be deserved" describes something that has already earned merit, while "to be deserving" describes something that possesses the qualities that would make it worthy of merit. For example, "The award was "to be deserved" because she was "to be deserving" of recognition".