Were found to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were found to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something was discovered or acknowledged after some investigation. For example: "Several products were found to contain dangerous levels of toxins."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

All were found to have teratomas.

The New York Times

Volunteers were found to help.

The New York Times

Damages were found to be $412,000.

Harvard University

were found to be safe.

Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology

The allegations were found to be unsubstantiated.

The New York Times

Ways were found to eliminate the attacker".

The Guardian

None were found to have the disease.

The New York Times

Three accounts were found to be unreliable.

The Guardian

Just 4% were found to be improving.

The Guardian

The methods were found to be robust.

Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis

Additional variables were found to affect opposition.

Ecological Economics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "were found to", ensure that the context clearly indicates who or what did the finding. This helps maintain clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "was found to" when referring to multiple subjects. "Was found to" is for singular subjects, while "were found to" is for plural subjects.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "were found to" is to form a passive construction indicating a discovery or determination made about a subject. Ludwig AI states its usability in written English, and it can be observed in the examples provided.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

33%

Academia

26%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "were found to" is a versatile phrase employed to present findings and conclusions objectively. As Ludwig AI confirms, its grammatical status is correct, and its usage is prevalent across diverse contexts, including News & Media, Science, and Academia. While alternatives like "were discovered to" and "were determined to be" offer nuanced variations, "were found to" remains a strong passive construction for delivering factual information. Remember to maintain subject-verb agreement and clarify who or what made the finding to ensure clarity in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were discovered to

Focuses more on the act of uncovering something previously unknown.

were determined to be

Implies a more formal or official assessment process.

were identified as

Highlights the act of recognizing or pinpointing something specific.

were shown to be

Emphasizes that something was demonstrated or proven through evidence.

were revealed to be

Suggests that something previously hidden or unknown has come to light.

were proven to be

Highlights the verification of some aspect with a test.

were established as

Implies a confirmed or officially recognized status.

were ascertained to be

Highlights a formal procedure of verification, more strict than other options.

were recognized as

Emphasizes acknowledgment or acceptance of a particular quality or role.

were understood to be

Suggests a shared or common knowledge, it's usually the last step of verification.

FAQs

How can I use "were found to" in a sentence?

The phrase "were found to" is used to indicate that something was discovered or determined after an investigation or analysis. For example, "The documents "were found to be" authentic".

What are some alternatives to "were found to"?

Some alternatives include "were discovered to", "were determined to be", or "were identified as", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "were found to"?

The phrase "were found to" is inherently passive. While active voice is often preferred, using the passive voice can be appropriate when the actor is unknown or when emphasizing the object of the action is more important.

What's the difference between "were found to" and "was found to"?

"Were found to" is used with plural subjects (e.g., "The missing files "were found to be" in the archive"), while "was found to" is used with singular subjects (e.g., "The error "was found to be" in the code").