was seen to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'was seen to' is correct and usable in written English.
It is used in a passive voice structure to show that someone had an action performed upon them. For example, "The criminal was seen to escape through the back door."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The lesson was seen to be: 'after Somalia, never intervene'.

The Guardian

Sarkozy was seen to have been more dynamic and competent.

The Guardian

Blakelock was seen to slip by a grass verge.

The Guardian

Hollande was seen to have cemented his advance.

The Guardian

The gunman was seen to flee on a motorbike.

The Guardian

Schäuble was seen to shake his head at the exchange.

The Guardian

He was seen to be arrogant, a freak, a genius.

The New Yorker

"The industry was seen to be declining," she says.

The Guardian

He even was seen to be mumbling to himself.

The New York Times - Sports

For many years, this was seen to be a virtue.

The Economist

Migraine was seen to improve during pregnancy.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was seen to" to describe an event or action that was directly observed, especially when emphasizing the act of witnessing. For example: "The suspect "was seen to" enter the building shortly before the alarm went off."

Common error

Avoid using "was seen to" when describing abstract concepts or things that cannot be literally seen. Instead of saying "The policy "was seen to" improve morale," consider "The policy appeared to improve morale."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was seen to" functions as a passive construction indicating that something was observed or witnessed. It's often used to describe actions or events that were directly viewed, similar to examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

43%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was seen to" is a versatile passive construction used to indicate that an action or event was directly observed. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use across various contexts. Predominantly found in scientific and news-related content, this phrase serves to report observations objectively. When writing, remember to reserve "was seen to" for situations where direct visual witnessing is implied, and be mindful of avoiding its use with abstract concepts. Alternatives like "was observed to" or "appeared to" can provide suitable substitutes depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was observed to

Replaces "seen" with "observed", maintaining a formal tone and emphasizing direct observation.

was noticed to

Substitutes "seen" with "noticed", suggesting a slightly less formal or intentional observation.

could be seen to

Expresses the possibility or potential for something to be observed.

appeared to

Indicates a perception based on appearance, rather than direct observation.

was found to

Suggests discovery or finding through investigation or research.

seemed to

Similar to "appeared to", but implies a subjective impression.

has been shown to

Emphasizes a demonstration or proof, often in a scientific context.

was understood to

Shifts the focus to understanding or interpretation, rather than direct visual perception.

turned out to be

Indicates a result or outcome that became apparent over time.

was believed to

Indicates a general belief or consensus, rather than direct observation.

FAQs

How can I use "was seen to" in a sentence?

"Was seen to" is used to describe an action or event that someone witnessed. For instance, "The bird "was seen to" fly away" indicates someone observed the bird flying away.

What alternatives can I use instead of "was seen to"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "was observed to", "appeared to", or "seemed to".

Is it correct to say "was seen to be" instead of "was seen to"?

Both phrases can be correct, but they have slightly different uses. "Was seen to be" often implies a judgment or assessment, while "was seen to" simply indicates observation. For example, "The project "was seen to" succeed" vs "The project "was seen to be" successful".

What's the difference between "was seen to" and "was understood to"?

"Was seen to" implies direct observation, while "was understood to" suggests an interpretation or conclusion based on available information, not necessarily direct witnessing.