Wikipedia:Considered as
Essay on editing Wikipedia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Many things should be considered when editing Wikipedia. One of these things is whether it is really necessary to tack on the extra word as when writing about how a thing is considered. Consider the following examples:
 | This is an essay. It contains the advice or opinions of one or more Wikipedia contributors. This page is not an encyclopedia article or a Wikipedia policy, as it has not been reviewed by the community. |
 | This page in a nutshell: Considered and considered as are synonyms, and the former is generally preferable by virtue of being more concise. |
Wikipedia is considered useful by many. 
Wikipedia is considered as useful by many. 
While neither of these should be considered wrong, per se, the first is simpler, clearer, and, to many, sounds more professional than the second. Consider editor Emily Brewster's response to some example sentences given by a curious user of The Britannica Dictionary, each written with and without as. Brewster stated that although considered as has historically been standard, she considered the versions without as to sound more natural. Merriam-Webster's Concise Dictionary of English Usage considers both versions standard, but it does state that considered as is becoming less common.[1][a]
A considerably stronger opinion is given by an editorial of the Minnesota-based news outlet Bring Me The News, which conversely suggests that the "maddening" phrase considered as is becoming more common. The author calls its usage both infuriating and heartbreaking, considering the added word "almost always" redundant.[2][b] However, consider that this is only one person's opinion, and that although the other source concurs that just considered usually sounds better, it does not go so far as to condemn its entire usage, once considered standard.
Considerations
When considering differing views on the acceptability of different grammatical constructions, it helps to consider Wikipedia's guidelines (consider that we are, after all, on Wikipedia). WP:TERSE can perhaps be considered the best authority here:
Articles should use only necessary words. This does not mean using fewer words is always better; rather, when considering equivalent expressions, choose the more concise.
This should be considered perhaps the single strongest reason why considered should be considered preferable to considered as the vast majority of the time. The only considerable difference between the two expressions is the insertion of an extra word, and thus considered as is inherently less concise. Consider that this guideline does not constitute an absolute condemnation of considered as and that if the usage of this phrase will truly make an article better in some way, ignore all rules.
Data to consider
See also
- Wikipedia:It should be noted — another essay about unhelpful phrasing that specifically mentions the phrase consider that