As has been illustrated

You will usually find this phrase at the start of a sentence or a major clause. It is followed by a comma, and then you drop your main takeaway. For example: As has been illustrated, the market is shifting toward renewable energy. Notice how it uses the passive voice? This is intentional. By saying has been illustrated instead of I illustrated, you remove yourself from the equation. It makes the evidence feel objective and universal, rather than just your personal viewpoint. It is like saying the evidence exists in the world independently of you. You can also tuck it into the middle of a sentence, like: The results, as has been illustrated, suggest a need for further study. Just don't overdo it, or you will sound like a 19th-century philosopher who lost his monocle.

This phrase is strictly VIP-only. It belongs in the 'very formal' category of English. You will see it in university dissertations, corporate annual reports, and high-stakes legal documents. If you use this while texting your friend about where to get pizza, they will probably think you have been hacked by a robot. It is a C1-level expression because it requires a solid grasp of the present perfect passive. It is perfect for IELTS or TOEFL writing tasks where you need to impress the grader with your structural complexity. Think of it as your 'fancy suit' phrase. You wear it to the interview, but you take it off when you get home to watch Netflix.

Imagine you are writing a LinkedIn article about remote work. You list five statistics showing productivity increases. You finish with: As has been illustrated, flexible schedules benefit both employees and bosses. Or, picture a high-level Zoom presentation for a tech startup. You show three slides of user growth. You say, As has been illustrated by these charts, our viral loop is working. You might even find it in a formal letter of complaint to a city council. After listing several broken streetlights, you could write: As has been illustrated, the lack of lighting is a safety hazard. It turns a list of complaints into a logical argument. It is about making your points feel connected rather than scattered.

Use this when you are writing something that will be graded or reviewed by a professional. It is ideal for the concluding sentence of a paragraph. If you have just provided a complex case study or a set of data, this phrase helps 'lock in' the meaning. It is also great for formal presentations where you are using slides. As you transition from a data slide to a summary slide, this phrase acts as the perfect verbal handoff. Use it when you want to sound like an expert who has done their homework. It builds your credibility by showing you have a clear structure to your thoughts.

Keep this far away from casual conversations, WhatsApp groups, or Instagram captions. If you post a photo of your latte and caption it As has been illustrated, caffeine is essential, people will think you are being incredibly sarcastic or just plain weird. Also, never use it if you haven't actually illustrated anything yet. It is a backward-looking phrase. If you use it before giving examples, your reader will be confused and look around for the missing pictures. Finally, avoid using it more than once or twice in a single document. It is a strong spice; a little bit adds flavor, but too much ruins the dish.

If you find yourself repeating the phrase, try As demonstrated. It carries almost the same weight but feels slightly more scientific. As shown is a bit simpler and works well in semi-formal business emails. If you want to be even more intense, use As has been established. That one sounds like you've just won a major debate. For something a bit softer, try As evidenced by the examples above. In British English, you might see As has been depicted, which sounds a bit more visual or artistic. If you are feeling extra fancy, As has been elucidated is the final boss of academic writing. Use that one only if you want your professor to suspect you are a time-traveling scholar.

Is this too formal for a business email? Yes, usually. Save it for a formal report or a very serious proposal. In a normal email, just say As shown below.

Can I say 'As I have illustrated' instead? You can, but it sounds more personal and less objective. The passive version is the gold standard for academic writing.

Does 'illustrated' only mean pictures? No! In English, you can 'illustrate' a point with words, stories, or statistics. It just means 'to make clear.'

What level of English is this? This is definitely C1 or C2 level. It is for learners who are moving into professional or academic spheres.