we are held to have

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we are held to have" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in legal or formal contexts to indicate that a certain conclusion or assumption is made about a person or situation. Example: "In this case, we are held to have acted in accordance with the law, despite the allegations against us."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

("We are held to have been intimately involved in all of this, which we were not," a U.S. diplomat told me).

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

But let us remember that we are held to a different standard precisely because we have been at the forefront in defending personal privacy and human dignity.

The Guardian

We know we are held to higher standards and have to meet those standards on a consistent basis".

The New York Times - Sports

Obama: "We are held to a different standard precisely because we have been at the forefront in defending personal privacy & human dignity".

Independent

We didn't have any other option but we feel like we've been held to ransom.

BBC

"The town has been generally supportive," said Gerry Tortorella, a lawyer for Eastwoods, "but we haven't been given carte blanche and we have been held to very high standards of environmental protection".

The New York Times

"That's two games in a row that we have been held to less than 100 yards rushing, and we've won 11 games by running the football".

The New York Times - Sports

Israel remains to this day under the largest magnifying glass of the international community and we have been held to the highest standards, some would say unfairly so.

Huffington Post

Some of the blogs criticizing our ToS had Terms that were just as broad, but Mark's point is that people share so much more on Facebook so we have to be held to a higher standard.

TechCrunch

We are happy to be held to the standards we have set for and expect of ourselves".

The Guardian - Business

"No one has been held to account.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we are held to have" in formal and legal contexts where you want to indicate a conclusion or assumption about a party's actions, particularly when responsibility or accountability is implied.

Common error

Avoid using "we are held to have" in casual conversation or informal writing. It sounds overly formal and can make your communication seem stilted or pretentious. Opt for simpler alternatives like "we are considered to have" or "people think we have".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we are held to have" functions as a passive construction used to express an assessment or judgment made about a group's actions. As indicated by Ludwig AI, this phrase is typically used in formal or legal contexts, implying responsibility or accountability.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "we are held to have" is a formal expression used to indicate that a conclusion or assumption has been made about a group's actions, often in legal or official settings. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is correct in written English and typically used in such contexts. While grammatically sound, its use is relatively rare and primarily found in news and media sources. For more casual communication, alternatives like "we are considered to have" may be more appropriate. When using this phrase, ensure that the context is formal and that you intend to convey a sense of accountability or responsibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we are considered to have

Replaces "held" with "considered", emphasizing a general perception rather than a formal judgment.

we are deemed to have

Substitutes "held" with "deemed", suggesting a more legal or official determination.

we are regarded as having

Uses "regarded" to convey a sense of reputation or general opinion about past actions.

we are seen as having

Emphasizes how actions are viewed by others, using "seen" for a more subjective assessment.

we are understood to have

Highlights the understanding or interpretation of our actions, using "understood" for clarity.

we are known to have

Indicates a widely acknowledged or established fact about our actions, using "known" for certainty.

it is believed that we have

Shifts to a passive construction to indicate a general belief about our actions.

we are reported to have

Indicates that information about our actions has been reported or circulated.

we are alleged to have

Suggests an accusation or unproven claim about our actions, using "alleged" for caution.

we are presumed to have

Implies a legal or logical inference about our actions, using "presumed" for assumption.

FAQs

What does "we are held to have" mean?

The phrase "we are held to have" means that a conclusion or assumption is made about a group's past actions, often implying responsibility or accountability. It's commonly used in formal or legal contexts.

When is it appropriate to use "we are held to have"?

It's appropriate to use "we are held to have" in formal and legal settings where you need to express a formal judgment or assumption about a group's actions. Avoid using it in casual or informal contexts.

What can I say instead of "we are held to have"?

You can use alternatives like "we are considered to have", "we are deemed to have", or "it is believed that we have" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is "we are held to have" different from "we are considered to have"?

Yes, while both phrases indicate an assumption or judgment, "we are held to have" implies a more formal or legal assessment, whereas "we are considered to have" suggests a general opinion or perception.