were assumed to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were assumed to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing beliefs or expectations about a subject in the past. Example: "The results of the experiment were assumed to validate the initial hypothesis."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But things were assumed to be different for women.

The New Yorker

All were assumed to have malaria and scabies.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Moody's and Standard & Poor's were assumed to know best.

The Economist

Two were assumed to be workers because they were handcuffed.

The New York Times

Monochorionic placentas were assumed to be MZ.

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Both distributions were assumed to be Gaussian.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Larger particles were assumed to undergo aggregation.

Combustion and Flame

Catalyst particles were assumed to be isothermal and isoconcentrational.

Catalysis Today

The buildings were assumed to be founded on shallow foundations.

Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering

Only bull calves were assumed to be genotyped.

Journal of Dairy Science

Material interfaces were assumed to be fully bonded.

Journal of Biomechanics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "were assumed to", ensure the context clearly indicates who made the assumption and the basis for it. This enhances clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "were assumed to" without providing any context or justification for the assumption. Unsupported assumptions can weaken your argument and make your writing less credible.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were assumed to" functions as a passive verb phrase indicating a past supposition or presumption. As Ludwig AI explains, it's used when something was taken for granted or supposed true without definitive proof, as seen in examples from science and news media.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

72%

News & Media

25%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "were assumed to" is a common passive verb phrase used to express past presumptions or suppositions. According to Ludwig AI, it indicates that something was taken for granted, often without concrete evidence, primarily within scientific and news contexts. Its neutral to formal register makes it suitable for academic, scientific, and journalistic writing. For more precise communication, consider alternatives like "were presumed to" or "were believed to" depending on the specific context and desired nuance. Remember to provide context for any assumptions to maintain clarity and credibility in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were presumed to

Replaces "assumed" with "presumed", suggesting a slightly stronger basis for the belief.

were considered to be

Uses "considered" instead of "assumed", implying a more formal evaluation.

were thought to be

Substitutes "assumed" with "thought", indicating a general belief or opinion.

were understood to be

Replaces "assumed" with "understood", suggesting a shared comprehension or knowledge.

were believed to be

Uses "believed" instead of "assumed", implying faith or conviction without concrete proof.

were expected to

Focuses on anticipation or prediction rather than assumption.

were anticipated to

Emphasizes the expectation of something happening.

were supposed to be

Indicates an expectation based on rules, agreements, or common practice.

were deemed to be

Implies a formal judgment or assessment leading to the assumption.

were taken to be

Replaces "assumed" with "taken", suggesting an interpretation or understanding.

FAQs

How can I use "were assumed to" in a sentence?

The phrase "were assumed to" is used to indicate that something was taken for granted or supposed to be true, often without concrete evidence. For example, "The missing files "were assumed to" have been accidentally deleted".

What phrases can I use instead of "were assumed to"?

Alternatives include "were presumed to", "were thought to be", or "were understood to be", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "were assumed to" or "were believed to"?

The choice between "were assumed to" and "were believed to" depends on the context. "Were assumed to" suggests a supposition, while "were believed to" implies a stronger conviction or faith. Therefore, choose the phrase that best reflects the level of certainty involved.

What is the difference between "were assumed to" and "were expected to"?

"Were assumed to" indicates a supposition, while "were expected to" implies an anticipation or prediction. The former is based on taking something for granted, whereas the latter is based on anticipated outcomes.