To convey widespread acceptance of information as evidence rather than personal assertion.

Presenting facts reported by others while indicating uncertainty about the source of the claim.

When summarizing news articles, academic studies, rumors, or official statements where attribution is not specified.

Journalism (news summaries), formal writing, scientific literature, and discussions of public opinions.

is believed to

is believed to

Subject; infinitive form can be simple or perfect tense

• is believed to be
• are believed to have
• was believed to have been

• is said to / is thought to / is known to / is reported to

Using a full subordinate clause instead of the required infinitive: e.g., ‘He is believed that he caused…’ should be ‘He is believed to have caused…’.

"There is/was a belief that …" vs. more explicit passive reporting like "It is believed that …"

Learners from languages using active voice constructions may mistakenly insert an object or subject after ‘believed’, leading to grammatical errors; cognate interference in Spanish (“se cree que”) can cause confusion with verb tense expectations.

• passive reporting verb frames

The construction signals cautious, non‑assertive attribution—emphasizing the information as reported rather than personally held opinion.

Creates distance between speaker and claim, indicating neutrality about who holds the belief.

"is believed to + infinitive"

This chunk is commonly used in academic and journalistic writing to report information without specifying the source. It is essential for learners to understand the passive reporting structure and the requirement for an infinitive clause to avoid common grammatical mistakes.

“The minister is widely believed to have been aware of the risks.”