use verb tenses and time shifts correctly

[Anonymous]

Many people are believing that increased security has led to a loss of freedom.

 

[RonBee]

Many people are believing that increased security has led to a loss of freedom.

Better:

• Many people believe that increased security has led to a loss of freedom.

 

[MikeNewYork]

Many people are believing that increased security has led to a loss of freedom.

I agree with Ron, that the non-progressive form is better than the progressive form in that sentence. I don't think, however, that the progressive form is completely wrong in this construction. The progressive form creates the idea that believing is a process, beginning with a little belief and turning into a lot of belief. Another way to say that is "many people are starting to believe". If you change the beginning to "More and more people", then I would actually choose "are believing". This creates the idea that the belief is in the process of growing in the population.

 

[henry]

Many people are believing that increased security has led to a loss of freedom.

Better:

• Many people believe that increased security has led to a loss of freedom.

There are though some verbs that you may not write in "continuous sentence".
:?:

 

[Tdol]

There are some that we don't use in the continuous forms, or only under special circumstances.;-)