As has been shown

You will mostly find this phrase at the start of a sentence. It usually introduces a conclusion or a summary of a specific section. You can also place it in the middle of a sentence with commas. For example, The results, as has been shown, are quite conclusive. It often pairs with a passive voice structure to keep things formal. You are pointing to the "showing" that happened in the previous paragraphs. It is perfect for essays, business reports, or very serious emails. It works best when you have just finished presenting a complex set of data. It tells the reader to pause and reflect on that specific evidence. Don't use it if you haven't actually shown anything yet, though! That is a quick way to lose your reader's trust.

This phrase is the tuxedo of the English language. It is very formal and belongs in academic or professional settings. You won't hear people saying this at a backyard BBQ. If you texted this to a friend, they might think you were hacked. It sits firmly at the C1 level because it requires a grasp of complex grammar. The missing it (as in as it has been shown) is a stylistic choice. This choice makes the sentence feel more streamlined and "academic." It shows you understand the nuances of high-level English writing styles. It is great for LinkedIn articles where you want to sound like a visionary. It is less great for a casual Instagram caption about your morning coffee.

You will see this constantly in university textbooks and peer-reviewed journals. If you are watching a TED Talk, the speaker might use it. They use it to transition from their data slides to their big idea. In a corporate annual report, a CEO might use it to explain growth. As has been shown in our Q3 data, expansion is working. Even in high-end video essays on YouTube, creators use it for structure. It helps the viewer keep track of the argument's progress over time. If you are reading a long-form article in The New York Times, keep an eye out. It is a favorite of journalists who write about science or economics. It adds a layer of "vouched-for" credibility to any claim you make.

Use it when you are concluding a long section of a paper. It is perfect for the first sentence of your final conclusion paragraph. Use it when you need to link two different sets of evidence. If Figure A and Figure B both point to one result, use this. It is also useful when you are responding to a counter-argument. You can say, As has been shown, the opposing view lacks specific data. Use it when you want to sound objective and distance yourself from the claim. It makes the evidence the star of the show, not your personal feelings. It is the ultimate tool for anyone writing a thesis or a dissertation. Use it to make your logic feel inescapable and perfectly structured.

Never use this in a casual conversation with your family or friends. As has been shown, Mom, the dishes are still dirty is too much. It will make you sound arrogant or robotic in a social setting. Avoid using it if you haven't provided any evidence in the first place. You can't refer to something that doesn't exist; that's just gaslighting your reader. Also, don't use it more than once or twice in a short essay. Overusing it makes your writing feel repetitive and a bit too stiff. If your writing is already very simple, this phrase might feel out of place. It needs a certain level of surrounding complexity to feel truly natural. Save it for the big moments in your writing, not every sentence.

A very common error is adding an extra it where it isn't needed. While as it has been shown is okay, the version without it is more elegant. Another mistake is using the wrong tense, like as was shown. That refers to something much further back, whereas has been is more immediate. Some people forget the commas when they put it in the middle of a sentence. ✗ As has been shown the data is wrong → ✓ As has been shown, the data is wrong. Another mistake is using it to introduce a brand-new idea for the first time. ✗ As has been shown, I think we should go to Japan. (Wait, when did we show that?) Make sure the "showing" actually happened in the previous lines. Otherwise, your reader will be scrolling up looking for the proof you missed.

You can swap this out for as demonstrated to sound equally professional. As evidenced by the data is another great choice for scientific contexts. If you want to be slightly less formal, try as we have seen. This includes the reader in the journey, making it feel more collaborative. In light of the evidence presented is a longer, even more formal alternative. If you are writing a quick note, as shown above is a common shortcut. You might also see as previously discussed in very long academic documents. Each variation has a slightly different "flavor" but serves the same purpose. As has been shown remains the gold standard for a clean, logical transition. It is the most balanced option for most high-level professional writing tasks.

Is this phrase only for written English? Mostly, yes. It is very rare in spoken English unless you are giving a formal speech. Can I use it in the middle of a paragraph? Yes, it works great there to link two related sentences together. Does it always need a comma? Usually, yes. If it starts the sentence, follow it with a comma. Is it the same as "as shown"? Basically, yes, but as has been shown feels more complete and formal. Why is there no "it" in the phrase? It is a specific grammatical construction called an elliptical clause. It is very common in formal English to drop the pronoun here. Can I use it in a business email? Only if the email is very formal and contains a lot of data. Otherwise, it might sound a bit too dramatic for a quick update.