How to use "is being considered"

What Does "is being considered" Mean?

• The expression "is being considered" signifies that something is currently in the process of being thought about, examined, or evaluated for a particular purpose or decision. It implies that a final decision has not yet been made, but active deliberation is taking place.
• The meaning is compositional. Each word contributes its individual meaning to the overall sense.
• The register is neutral to formal.

How to Use It

• Grammatical pattern: subject + is being considered + optional complement/prepositional phrase.
• Typical objects/complements include plans, proposals, applications, options, and matters. It's often followed by a prepositional phrase indicating the entity doing the considering (e.g., "by the committee").
• The components cannot be separated. "Being considered is" or similar rearrangements are grammatically incorrect.
• What sounds unnatural: Using an active voice construction when the passive voice is intended. For example, "They are considering the plan" is different from "The plan is being considered." Using a past tense form like "was being considered" when the present tense is required to convey the current state of evaluation.

Real-World Examples

"What intervention is being considered." — The Guardian

"Another court challenge is being considered." — The Guardian

"Officials say the matter is being considered." — Independent

"My application is being considered." — The Guardian - Opinion

"Today, he is being considered for sainthood." — The New York Times

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

Similar Phrases and Alternatives

Phrase	Context
is under consideration	Very similar in meaning and register; slightly more formal.
is being evaluated	Emphasizes a more formal and systematic assessment.
is being reviewed	Suggests a closer examination, often of documents or performance.
is being assessed	Implies a judgment is being made about value or quality.
is being contemplated	Suggests a more thoughtful and reflective consideration.
is being weighed	Implies comparing different options before making a choice.
is in the works	More informal; suggests active development or planning.

Common Mistakes

• Using the active voice instead of the passive voice: "The committee is considering the proposal" instead of "The proposal is being considered by the committee."
• Incorrect tense usage: "The plan was being considered" (past continuous) when the present continuous "is being considered" is needed to indicate an ongoing process.
• Learners often struggle with the passive voice construction, using incorrect verb tenses or omitting the auxiliary verbs. For example, saying "It considered" instead of "It is being considered".

Quick-Reference Summary

Expression	Meaning	Grammatical Pattern	Register
is being considered	In the process of being thought about or evaluated	Subject + is being considered + (optional complement)	Neutral to Formal

FAQs

Can the words in "is being considered" be separated?

No, the phrase "is being considered" functions as a unit. The auxiliary verbs "is" and "being" are essential for forming the present continuous passive voice, and separating them would result in an ungrammatical sentence.

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How is "is being considered" different from "is under consideration"?

While both phrases have similar meanings, "is being considered" emphasizes the ongoing process of evaluation, whereas "is under consideration" focuses more on the state of being evaluated. "Is under consideration" is slightly more formal.

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What's a common mistake when using "is being considered" and how can I fix it?

A common mistake is using an active voice construction when a passive one is needed, or using the wrong verb tense. For example, instead of saying "The application is being considered," a learner might incorrectly say "They are considering the application" (active) or "The application was considered" (past simple passive). Remember to use the correct auxiliary verbs and the past participle form of the verb to construct the present continuous passive voice correctly.