“As Evidenced By” or “As Evident By”?

In English, certain tiny phrases may appear harmless, but they hold real power – capable of either strengthening or weakening your writing. When aiming for a formal tone, especially in academic, legal, or professional settings, even confident speakers may stumble. The mix-up between “as evidenced by” or “as evident by” is more common than many realize. One is grammatically correct, the other is a subtle, often misused error that can easily trip you up if you’re not fully aware of the difference.

Understanding the correct structure allowed me to confidently express causality and support my points more clearly. That small shift made a noticeable difference in how my work was received, especially in more critical environments.

Why This Phrase Confuses So Many English Writers

Every writer wants their ideas to sound smart, clear, and professional. But certain expressions – especially ones used in formal settings – are easy to mess up. That’s why people stumble over phrases like:

• “As evidenced by…”
• “As evident by…”

You might hear both in casual speech or find them online. But only one is accepted in polished writing – and that’s a big deal.

This confusion is rooted in grammar. It involves verb forms, parts of speech, and prepositions – things we often skip over in school but desperately need in real life.

Let’s fix that today.

The Origin and Rise of “As Evidenced By”

The phrase “as evidenced by” dates back to the early 19th century and was mostly used in legal, scientific, and academic settings. It’s a formal way to say that something is proven, demonstrated, or shown by something else.

📈 Over the years, its usage has grown:

Time Period	Frequency of Use (based on corpus data)
1850–1900	Rare in legal and scientific texts
1950–2000	Increased usage in academic writing
2000–Present	Common in business, policy, and media

Writers use this phrase to link claims to evidence, whether it’s data, behavior, or documentation.

What “As Evidenced By” Really Means

The phrase “as evidenced by” means:

“As demonstrated or proven by…”

It’s a passive construction that implies something is being supported or backed up by evidence – usually what follows the phrase.

Real Examples:

• The theory holds up, as evidenced by years of independent studies.
• His leadership skills are clear, as evidenced by the team’s rapid growth.

It’s most often used in formal writing, where backing up a claim matters.

Why “As Evident By” Is Wrong – Even If It Sounds Okay

Let’s be honest: “as evident by” doesn’t sound terrible at first glance. In fact, it sounds right to many people. But grammatically, it’s off. Here’s why:

Term	Part of Speech	Function
Evident	Adjective	Describes something (e.g., “clear”)
Evidenced	Verb (past participle)	Implies something is proven or shown

Now consider how English works. When we use “by” to show an agent (someone doing something), we need a past participle, not an adjective.

Incorrect:

• The improvement was clear, as evident by the reviews. ❌

Correct:

• The improvement was clear, as evidenced by the reviews. ✅

In short, “evident” can’t do the job here. It’s an adjective, not a participle. Using it this way is like using a wrench to hammer a nail.

Understanding the Grammar Behind It

Let’s break down the structure:

as + past participle + by + noun/phrase

It’s a passive construction. You’ll often find similar setups:

• As shown by…
• As demonstrated by…
• As indicated by…

In each of these, we’re pointing to proof or supporting evidence. The agent doing the proving comes after “by.”

Sentence Structure Template:

Component	Example
Subject	“The success…”
Verb	“…was no accident…”
Passive Evidence Phrase	“…as evidenced by reviews.”

You can plug this into countless sentences for smooth, professional tone.

Why “By” Matters: The Role of Prepositions

Prepositions like “by” are tiny words that do heavy lifting in English. In this phrase, “by” indicates the source or agent providing the proof.

Compare:

• “As evidenced by the data” → The data provides the evidence
• “As evident by the data” → Grammatically broken

Now, if you wanted to use “evident,” you’d need a different preposition:

✅ “As evident in the data…” ✅ “Her frustration was evident from her tone.”

🛑 “As evident by…” just doesn’t work.

Examples of Correct Usage in Context

Let’s ground this in real-world settings.

Academic:

• “The phenomenon is well-documented, as evidenced by multiple peer-reviewed studies.”

Legal:

• “The breach of contract was clear, as evidenced by the email correspondence.”

Business:

• “The company’s financial health is strong, as evidenced by consecutive quarters of profit.”

Here’s a comparison chart for quick reference:

Correct Usage	Incorrect Usage
As evidenced by the results of the experiment	As evident by the results of the experiment
As evidenced by her record of success	As evident by her record of success
As evidenced by market trends	As evident by market trends

What Does “Evident” Actually Mean?

Let’s clarify both words so there’s no doubt.

Word	Part of Speech	Meaning	Example
Evident	Adjective	Obvious or clearly seen	“Her excitement was evident.”
Evidenced	Past participle (verb)	Proven or demonstrated through evidence	“His claim was evidenced by facts.”

They’re close cousins, but they serve different purposes.

Useful Alternatives to “As Evidenced By”

Using the same phrase too often can make your writing stale. Here are some variations that work just as well:

Alternative Phrase	When to Use
As demonstrated by	When showing an action or example
As proven by	When evidence is irrefutable
As shown by	When pointing to data or visuals
As indicated by	When suggesting proof or signals
As supported by	When reinforcing an argument with sources

Tip: Match the phrase to the formality of your writing.

When NOT to Use “As Evidenced By”

Not every situation calls for this phrase. In casual emails or informal writing, it might sound too stiff.

Avoid it when:

• Writing to friends or coworkers casually
• The sentence already implies proof
• The tone of your content is light, humorous, or informal

Instead, use simpler language like:

• “Which proves…”
• “Clearly shown in…”
• “Based on…”

Example:

• Casual: “We crushed our sales goals, based on the numbers.”
• Formal: “We exceeded sales projections, as evidenced by quarterly reports.”

Common Mistakes Writers Make

Even experienced writers make errors with this phrase. Here are some you should watch out for:

❌ Incorrect Forms:

• “As evidencing by…”
• “As evident by…”
• “As evidents by…”

❌ Misplaced Modifiers:

• “He was promoted as evidenced by quickly finishing tasks.” (Sounds clunky – what’s doing the evidencing?)

✅ Better:

• “His promotion was well-deserved, as evidenced by his task completion rate.”

Memory Trick to Lock It In

Here’s a quick way to remember which one is correct:

“You need evidence to be evidenced.”

If you’re using a phrase that implies proof by something, think “evidenced by.” If you’re describing something obvious or clear, go with “evident in/from.”

Use this visual metaphor: Imagine a courtroom. You don’t say, “The truth is evident by the witness.” You say, “The truth is evidenced by the witness.”

Final Thoughts:

Mastering formal English expressions doesn’t have to feel like cracking a secret code. The difference between “as evidenced by” and “as evident by” is a great example of how grammar precision elevates your writing. One is correct, powerful, and respected in academic and professional circles. The other? A common misstep that can instantly undercut your authority.

So the next time you’re tempted to write “as evident by,” stop. Think. And go with the proven winner: “as evidenced by.”

It’s a small shift that makes a big impact – as evidenced by the clarity you now have.

FAQs

What’s the correct phrase: “as evidenced by” or “as evident by”?

“As evidenced by” is the correct phrase. It uses the past participle “evidenced” to show that something is proven by what follows. “As evident by” is grammatically incorrect and not accepted in formal writing.

Why is “as evident by” wrong in grammar?

Because “evident” is an adjective, and adjectives can’t be followed by “by” to form passive constructions. You need a past participle like “evidenced” to properly use the preposition “by.”

Can I use “as evident in” or “as evident from” instead?

Yes! “As evident in” or “as evident from” are correct because the prepositions match the adjective structure. Example: “His talent was evident in his performance.”

Is “as evidenced by” too formal for everyday use?

It’s best suited for formal or academic writing. In everyday conversation or casual content, simpler alternatives like “as shown by” or “based on” might sound more natural.

What are some strong alternatives to “as evidenced by”?

Try “as demonstrated by,” “as proven by,” “as supported by,” or “as shown by.” These alternatives help vary your language while maintaining the same meaning and tone.