How to use "being assessed"

What Does "being assessed" Mean?

• The phrase "being assessed" signifies that someone or something is currently in the process of being evaluated, judged, or examined to determine its value, quality, importance, or effectiveness. It indicates an ongoing evaluation rather than a completed one.
• The meaning is compositional. "Being" is the auxiliary verb forming the continuous passive, and "assessed" is the past participle of the verb "assess." The combination creates the meaning of an ongoing evaluation.
• Register: Neutral to formal.

How to Use It

• Grammatical pattern: auxiliary verb + past participle (passive voice). The structure is "subject + is/are/was/were + being assessed (+ optional 'by' phrase)."
• Typical objects include things like impact, damage, claims, skills, performance, or suitability. It can also be used to refer to a person being evaluated.
• The components cannot be separated. "Being assessed" functions as a unit within the passive voice construction.
• What sounds unnatural: Using an active voice construction when the passive voice is required (e.g., "They are assessing the situation" instead of "The situation is being assessed"). Using the wrong tense of the auxiliary verb can also be incorrect (e.g., "The situation will be being assessed").

Real-World Examples

These examples are sourced from being assessed on Ludwig.guru.

"The environmental devastation is still being assessed." — The Guardian - Business

"The extent to which he succeeded is still being assessed." — The Guardian

"The size of her claim is being assessed." — The Guardian

"She described a constituent who was driven to attempt suicide by her experience of being assessed." — The Guardian

"They're being taken to hospital and being assessed." — Independent

Examples sourced from https://ludwig.guru/s/being+assessed

Similar Phrases and Alternatives

Phrase	Context
under consideration	Implies a more thoughtful and deliberate review process; slightly more formal.
under review	Similar to "under consideration" but can also imply a more critical examination.
being evaluated	A direct synonym, often used interchangeably with "being assessed."
being examined	Suggests a closer, more detailed inspection.
being investigated	Implies that something is being looked into, often due to suspicion or a problem.
in the process of evaluation	A more verbose and formal alternative.
subject to assessment	Highlights the requirement for an assessment to be performed.

Common Mistakes

• Using the active voice instead of the passive voice (e.g., "They are assessing" instead of "It is being assessed").
• Omitting the auxiliary verb "being" (e.g., "It is assessed" instead of "It is being assessed"). This changes the meaning to a completed assessment.
• Incorrectly using the past simple "was assessed" when the continuous aspect is needed to emphasize an ongoing process. This implies the assessment is already complete. Learners often struggle with the passive voice construction, incorrectly using active voice or omitting the auxiliary verb 'be'.

Quick-Reference Summary

Expression	Meaning	Grammatical Pattern	Register
being assessed	Undergoing evaluation or judgment.	auxiliary verb + being + past participle	Neutral to Formal

FAQs

Can the parts of "being assessed" be separated?

No, the phrase "being assessed" functions as a unit within the passive voice construction. You cannot insert words between "being" and "assessed" without disrupting the grammatical structure and meaning.

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What's the difference between "being assessed" and "being evaluated"?

While very similar, "being assessed" often implies a more formal or structured evaluation process. "Being evaluated" can be used more broadly to describe any kind of judgment or appraisal, whereas "being assessed" often suggests established criteria or standards are being applied.

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How can I avoid the common mistake of using the active voice instead of the passive voice with "being assessed"?

Remember that "being assessed" is a passive construction. This means the subject is receiving the action, not performing it. Ensure your sentence follows the pattern: "Subject + is/are/was/were + being assessed + (optional 'by' phrase)." If you can rephrase the sentence with "someone/something is assessing..." you have likely made an error.