What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
reported
Example
The newspaper reported on the latest political scandal. [reported: verb]
Example
It was reported that the company is facing financial difficulties. [reported: passive voice]
purported
Example
The purported UFO sighting turned out to be a weather balloon. [purported: adjective]
Example
The book's purported authorship by a famous writer has been called into question. [purported: noun modifier]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Reported is more common in everyday language than purported, which is more formal and less frequently used.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between reported and purported?
Purported is more formal than reported and is often used in legal or academic contexts to express doubt or skepticism about the accuracy of information.
