English · B2 · grammar · 5 minutes
Reporting passives
Present widely held claims with it is said that or subject + is said to, while preserving uncertainty.
Understand the choice
These structures foreground the reported claim and background its source. They do not prove the claim; writers still need evidence and an appropriate reporting verb such as believe, estimate, expect, or allege.
Core rule: Reporting passives use it + passive reporting verb + that-clause, or a subject + passive reporting verb + to-infinitive.
Notice it in context
The treatment is believed to reduce recovery time.
Se cree que el tratamiento reduce el tiempo de recuperación.
Is believed marks the claim as attributed; to reduce reports a simultaneous/general action.
It is estimated that the project will cost two million euros.
An unnamed estimate places the future project cost at two million euros.
Impersonal it introduces a full that-clause.
The company is alleged to have hidden the records.
An allegation says the company hid records before the current report.
To have hidden marks an earlier reported action.
What to remember
- Use to have + participle when the reported event happened earlier than the reporting frame.
- Alleged signals an unproven accusation and is not interchangeable with proved.
Common trap: Do not use an impersonal passive to make a weak or anonymous claim appear factual.