admitted to finding

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "admitted to finding" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when someone acknowledges or confesses to discovering something, often in a context of honesty or revelation. Example: "She admitted to finding the missing documents in her office drawer."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

Malchiodi admitted to finding the trend disappointing.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Mr. Patinkin has appeared only infrequently in Shakespeare and has admitted to finding the language challenging.

The New York Times

They admitted to finding it hard to adjust to mainstream America.

The Economist

Dr Chris Grover Senior lecturer in social policy, Law School, Lancaster university So, John McDonnell has admitted to finding attraction in a citizen's income.

The Guardian

Kennedy admitted to finding herself nervous about the challenge of making sure they lived up to what Cox would have done with the work.

The Guardian

Over the summer, while still on the film's set on the outskirts of Shanghai, Mr. Chen admitted to finding the experience stressful.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

Zia admits to finding Test cricket boring but finds the T20 format "perfect".

BBC

No one was admitting to finding any gold – no one has to.

The Guardian

But, naturally guarded as she is, Green admits to finding the auditioning process a challenge.

The Guardian - Film

But like Alliss I shoot from the hip-replacement, and must admit to finding Walker disproportionately irritating.

The Guardian - Sport

Though I freely admit to finding many men attractive, Including Pierce Brosnan, Gig Young, And former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "admitted to finding", ensure the context clearly indicates what was found and why the admission is significant. This enhances clarity and impact in your writing.

Common error

While "admitted to finding" is acceptable, overuse can weaken your writing. In formal settings, consider stronger verbs like "discovered", "revealed", or "determined" to convey a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "admitted to finding" functions as a verb phrase indicating the act of acknowledging or confessing the discovery of something. It is commonly used to express that someone has conceded they found something, often unexpectedly or after some initial reluctance. According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Science

21%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

9%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "admitted to finding" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to convey the act of acknowledging or confessing to a discovery. It is found most frequently in news and media contexts, with a neutral to professional register. While "admitted to finding" is considered grammatically sound, as per Ludwig, writers should be mindful of the context and consider stronger verbs in formal settings. The phrase emphasizes the admission itself rather than the nature of the discovery. It is important to use other semantically related alternatives when writing the text, some alternatives are: "confessed to discovering", "acknowledged discovering", or "revealed they had located".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

confessed to discovering

Replaces "admitted" with "confessed" implying a stronger sense of guilt or wrongdoing in the discovery.

acknowledged discovering

Substitutes "admitted" with "acknowledged", suggesting a formal recognition of the discovery.

conceded that they found

Uses "conceded" to imply reluctance or opposition before admitting the discovery.

revealed they had located

Replaces "admitted to finding" with "revealed they had located", suggesting an unveiling of information.

disclosed the discovery of

Emphasizes the act of revealing the discovery rather than the act of finding itself.

owned up to locating

Replaces "admitted to finding" with the idiom "owned up to locating", indicating acceptance of responsibility for the discovery.

fessed up to the find

Uses the informal phrase "fessed up" implying a casual admission of the discovery.

came clean about discovering

Emphasizes honesty and clearing one's conscience regarding the finding.

confided that they had unearthed

Implies a sharing of a secret or personal information regarding the finding.

let on that they had detected

Suggests an unintentional or subtle revealing of the discovery.

FAQs

How can I use "admitted to finding" in a sentence?

Use "admitted to finding" when someone acknowledges or confesses to discovering something, often unexpectedly. For example, "The company "admitted to finding" accounting irregularities during the audit."

What are some alternatives to "admitted to finding"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "confessed to discovering", "acknowledged discovering", or "revealed they had located".

Is it always negative to "admit" to something?

While "admit" often implies acknowledging something unfavorable, it can also simply mean acknowledging a fact. The tone depends heavily on the context.

What is the difference between "admitted to finding" and "discovered"?

"Admitted to finding" implies a conscious acknowledgment or confession of a discovery, whereas "discovered" simply means that something was found, without necessarily implying a prior attempt to conceal it.