Was overlooked

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Was overlooked" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something was not noticed or considered, often in a context where it should have been. Example: "The important detail in the report was overlooked during the review process."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And still he was overlooked.

The New York Times - Sports

She was overlooked.

The New York Times

Elena was overlooked.

The New Yorker

He was overlooked at every level.

The New York Times - Sports

"I was overlooked," he said.

The Washington Post

"He was overlooked," Mr. Barta said.

The New York Times

Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost main island, was overlooked.

The Economist

Jack Nicholson ("Easy Rider") was overlooked.

The New York Times

I wonder why the poll was overlooked.

The Guardian

But after 1945 Ronald was overlooked.

The Guardian

It was overlooked as an emotional outburst.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was overlooked" when you want to emphasize that something should have been noticed or considered but wasn't, often due to negligence or oversight. For example, "The crucial piece of evidence was overlooked by the investigators".

Common error

Avoid using "was overlooked" when an active voice would be more direct and impactful. Instead of "The error was overlooked by the team", consider "The team overlooked the error" to create a more concise and forceful statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was overlooked" functions as a passive verb construction. As Ludwig AI confirms, it indicates that the subject received the action of being missed or ignored. This construction is commonly used to shift focus from the actor to the recipient of the action, as seen in examples like "He was overlooked at every level".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Science

23%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was overlooked" is a grammatically sound and frequently used passive construction that serves to highlight a failure of recognition or consideration. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread applicability. It's commonly found in "News & Media", "Science", and "Academia", conveying a sense of something being missed or disregarded, whether intentionally or unintentionally. To ensure clarity and impact, consider whether the active or passive voice best suits your intended message, and be mindful of contexts where more direct language might be preferable. Alternative phrases, such as ""was missed"" or ""was ignored"", offer subtle nuances that can refine your expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Was disregarded

Emphasizes that something was intentionally ignored or dismissed.

Was missed

Focuses on the failure to notice or detect something.

Was ignored

Highlights the act of consciously paying no attention to something.

Was neglected

Implies a lack of care or attention, leading to something being missed.

Was unheeded

Indicates that advice or a warning was not listened to or followed.

Was not considered

Suggests a failure to take something into account.

Was given short shrift

Means something was dealt with inadequately or quickly, without proper attention.

Slipped through the cracks

Indicates something was missed due to oversights in a system or process.

Was swept under the rug

Implies something was deliberately hidden or ignored.

Was lost sight of

Highlights a gradual forgetting or disregard of something important.

FAQs

What does "Was overlooked" mean?

The phrase "Was overlooked" means something was not noticed or considered, typically when it should have been. It implies a failure to recognize something important or relevant.

What are some alternatives to "Was overlooked"?

Alternatives include "was missed", "was ignored", "was neglected", or "was disregarded" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

How can I use "Was overlooked" in a sentence?

You can use "Was overlooked" to indicate that something important was not noticed. For example, "The key detail in the contract was overlooked during the initial review".

Is it better to use "Was overlooked" or "Overlooked"?

Whether to use "Was overlooked" (passive voice) or "Overlooked" (active voice) depends on the desired emphasis. The passive voice shifts the focus to the thing being overlooked, while the active voice emphasizes who did the overlooking. For instance, "The mistake was overlooked" versus "They overlooked the mistake".