Detect

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Detect" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of discovering or identifying something, often in the context of technology or observation. Example: "The software is designed to detect any anomalies in the data."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

McDermott says his squad is too limited and needs January reinforcements – most fans agree, but many of them also detect unexpected limitations in McDermott's approach and are eager to see some new ideas as well as new faces.

The Guardian - Sport

And if you detect it among your staff, can you fix it before disaster strikes?

The Guardian

She says it is possible to detect poor leadership simply by observing your organisation's environment: a room of employees experiencing poor leadership will look unhappy, demotivated, and unsure of what they are doing.

The Guardian

"The best chance we have to detect these crimes is by avoiding people at all costs".

The Guardian

Every time we detect one it's a minor miracle Howard Jones In the hunt for Sky and Hope, covert surveillance was no help.

The Guardian

"Essentially the idea is simple; you just swallow a pill with the nano particles, which are decorated with antibodies or molecules that detect other molecules," explained Andrew Conrad, head of life sciences inside the Google's "moonshot" X research lab to WSJD Live conference in California Tuesday.

The Guardian - Tech

They say there is "no effective system in place" to detect children and adolescents at risk because of "the deleterious effect of indefinite detention" and "no child specific mental health services on the island (i.e. no paediatric psychologist or psychiatrist)".

The Guardian

Bernie has lately hit on the notion that F1 would be considerably enlivened if water were sprayed on the track at random moments during the race (I'm not sure, but does anyone else detect a Flashdance influence here?).

The Guardian - Sport

Wikipedia's administrators told the Guardian they believed that Shapps has used alternative accounts that were not fully and openly disclosed in order to "split his editing history, so that other editors were not able to easily detect patterns in his contributions.

The Guardian

The Spanish federation said the committee had been unable to detect "deliberate time-wasting" on Messi's part but only "a normal reaction from someone who had suffered an aggression by a spectator".

The Guardian - Sport

In a similar way, DNN technology can detect patterns akin to the way biological systems recognize patterns.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "detect" when emphasizing the sensitivity of a method or instrument, as in "the device can "detect" minute changes in temperature".

Common error

Do not overuse "detect" in contexts where simpler verbs like "find" or "notice" would suffice. Overusing technical terms can make your writing sound unnecessarily complex or pretentious.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "Detect" is as a transitive verb, requiring a direct object. It signifies the act of discovering, noticing, or identifying something through careful search, examination, or probing, as confirmed by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

31%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "Detect" is a versatile verb used to describe the discovery or identification of something through careful means. According to Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and very common in written English. This guide provides insights into its grammatical function, communicative purpose, and register, emphasizing its frequent use in News & Media and Science. Remember to favor "detect" when precision matters but not to overuse it where simpler verbs suffice. The examples from Ludwig illustrate the wide range of contexts in which "detect" can be effectively employed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Identify

Focuses on recognizing a specific item or characteristic from a range of possibilities.

Discover

Emphasizes the act of finding something previously unknown or hidden.

Ascertain

Highlights the process of finding something out for certain; making sure of it.

Discern

Implies careful perception or astute recognition.

Recognize

Focuses on knowing something previously encountered.

Notice

Highlights becoming aware of something.

Observe

Suggests watching something carefully.

Uncover

Suggests discovering something hidden or secret.

Spot

Means to see or notice someone or something, usually because you are looking for them.

Determine

Implies reaching a decision or firm conclusion.

FAQs

How is "detect" typically used in a sentence?

The verb "detect" is often used to describe the act of discovering something not easily noticeable. For example, "The sensor can "detect" even the slightest movement."

What words can I use instead of "detect"?

You can use alternatives like "identify", "discover", or "ascertain" depending on the specific context.

When is it most appropriate to use "detect" over "find"?

"Detect" implies a process of careful searching or observation to uncover something concealed or subtle. While "find" simply means to come across something, "detect" suggests a deliberate effort to identify something specific, making it suitable in technical or investigative contexts.

Is there a difference between using "detect" and "recognize"?

"Detect" refers to the initial discovery of something, whereas "recognize" means to identify something already known. "Detect" suggests finding something new or previously unnoticed, while "recognize" implies a familiar identification.