Reporting a commonly held belief or assumption to indicate widespread acceptance without necessarily endorsing the view.

To signal that an idea is generally accepted among many individuals or within a particular field, often serving as a starting point for discussion or analysis.

When presenting research findings, discussing public opinion polls, setting up arguments where prior consensus matters, or introducing assumptions in academic writing.

Academic essays, professional reports, scholarly articles, formal presentations, and any context requiring objective framing of widely shared views.

It is; believed that

It is; believed that

adverb (commonly, generally); clause (the specific content of the belief).

• widely believed
• commonly believed
• generally believed
• often thought to be true.

• ‘It is a widely held view that …’
• ‘It is often considered that …’.

Using an active voice such as ‘People widely believe that …’, which shifts emphasis away from detached reporting and can imply endorsement.

“It is widely accepted that”; “It is acknowledged that”

None

• belief-reporting frames

The phrase conveys detachment— it signals the speaker’s stance does not necessarily align with the belief being reported, preserving objectivity in discourse.

Allows writers to reference established consensus without committing personal opinion, facilitating critical analysis or argumentation where prior agreement matters.

widely believed

This chunk is used to report a widely held belief or assumption, often in academic or professional contexts. It is useful for introducing a topic that is generally accepted but may be open to debate or further analysis.

“It is widely believed that the expedition reached its goal, though evidence is scant.”