Ludwig is an AI-powered English writing assistant that helps you find example sentences, check grammar, and improve your writing using reliable sources from reputable publications.

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Ludwig offers both free and premium plans. The free plan provides basic access to our features, while the premium plan unlocks advanced tools, unlimited searches, and additional writing assistance features.

How does Ludwig help with English learning?

Ludwig provides contextual example sentences from reliable sources like The New York Times, BBC, and academic publications, helping you understand how words and phrases are used in real-world contexts. This improves both writing fluency and comprehension skills.

Ludwig is trusted by students, teachers, researchers, and professionals worldwide. It's used by top universities including MIT, Stanford, Harvard, and Oxford, as well as professionals in tech companies like Adobe.

What makes Ludwig different from other writing tools?

Ludwig focuses on providing real example sentences from authoritative sources, not just grammar checking. This contextual approach helps users understand not just what's correct, but how language is actually used by native speakers and professional writers.

Used and loved by millions

Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

Have been contacted
Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have been contacted" is correct and usable in written English
You can use it when you want to indicate that someone has already been contacted or spoken to about something. For example: "We have been contacted by a potential customer who is interested in our services."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Table of contents

Usage summary

Human-verified examples

Expert writing tips

Linguistic context

Ludwig's wrap-up

Alternative expressions

FAQs

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

The FCO have been contacted and asked to comment.

News & Media

Independent

Ticketek and Brown's promoter have been contacted for comment.

News & Media

The Guardian - Music

Nauruan government officials have been contacted for comment.

News & Media

The Guardian

The ATO and Uber have been contacted for comment.

News & Media

The Guardian

Icke and the immigration department have been contacted for comment.

News & Media

The Guardian

More than 50 nations have been contacted by American diplomats.

News & Media

The New York Times

Mirabella and her campaign spokesman have been contacted for comment.

News & Media

The Guardian

Lawyers for Murdoch have been contacted for comment.

News & Media

The Guardian

Passengers should already have been contacted by the airlines and been offered alternatives.

News & Media

Independent

The BBC have been contacted for comment but have yet to respond.

News & Media

Independent

Tom Daley's representatives have been contacted with a request for further comment.

News & Media

Independent

Expert writing Tips

✓ Best practice

When using "have been contacted", clearly state who initiated the contact and the reason behind it. This provides context and clarity for the reader.

⚠ Common error

Avoid using "have been contacted" when the active voice would be more direct and concise. For example, instead of "We have been contacted by the client", consider "The client contacted us".

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been contacted" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the subject has received communication from an unspecified actor. This grammatical form is useful when the initiator of the contact is unknown, unimportant, or implied. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

✓ Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

⚠ Less common in

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Reference

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "have been contacted" is a versatile passive voice construction commonly employed to indicate that communication has been received. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is grammatically correct and highly prevalent, particularly in journalistic and formal contexts. It serves the purpose of informing an audience about the receipt of communication, often implying further action or response. While broadly acceptable, its formality might render it less suitable for casual settings. Its high frequency, as evidenced by the abundant examples in Ludwig, underscores its significance in contemporary communication.

Alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were reached out to

Emphasizes the act of initiating communication towards someone.

received communication from

Highlights the reception of a message or information.

were in touch with

Suggests an ongoing or established connection.

were notified by

Focuses on the act of being informed about something.

were spoken to by

Highlights a direct verbal exchange.

had a conversation with

Implies a more in-depth discussion.

More alternative expressions(6)

have been contained

have been caught

have been telephoned

have been communicated

have been notified

have been confronted

FAQs

How can I use "have been contacted" in a sentence?

Use "have been contacted" to indicate that someone has reached out to you or someone else. For example, "The police "have been contacted" regarding the incident".

What's a more formal alternative to "have been contacted"?

A more formal alternative could be "were notified". For instance, "The stakeholders "were notified" of the changes to the project timeline".

What's the difference between "have been contacted" and "were contacted"?

"Have been contacted" implies a continuing relevance to the present, while "were contacted" refers to a completed action in the past. For example, "We "have been contacted" multiple times this week" suggests ongoing communication, whereas "We "were contacted" last week" refers to specific past instances.

Is it correct to say "have been contacting" instead of "have been contacted"?

While similar, they have different meanings. "Have been contacting" indicates an ongoing action of reaching out to others, while "have been contacted" means that someone else has reached out to you. Therefore, using "have been contacting" when you mean someone contacted you would be incorrect.

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Table of contents

Usage summary

Human-verified examples

Expert writing tips

Linguistic context

Ludwig's wrap-up

Alternative expressions

FAQs

Source & Trust

85%

Authority and reliability

4.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences:

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Have been contactedGrammar usage guide and real-world examples

Have been contacted
Grammar usage guide and real-world examples