altered

USAGE SUMMARY

'altered' is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use 'altered' to refer to something that has been modified or changed in some way. Example: After the design was altered, the dress fit perfectly.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Ultimately, NSW Maritime altered its draft commercial lease policy to allow for direct negotiations with existing tenants and new leases were indeed granted to CQPL in 2009.

The Guardian

The German side were wearing a revolutionary new piece of kit – boots with screw-in studs that could be altered depending on the conditions.

The Guardian - Sport

Then we found that our flights had been altered from scheduled to chartered, changing in Bahrain.

The Guardian - Travel

One bride I designed for took a shapewear slip, attached it to a bra with stick on tabs at the side, and had the back of the bra altered and lowered.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

One of the problems of presenting videos as evidence in court has been ensuring they are proofed against counter-claims that they have been falsified or digitally altered.

The Guardian - Tech

He found that perceptions of masculinity altered across the menstrual cycle, with "a preference for more masculine faces when women are fertile".

The Guardian - Film

As a result, in a move that could have radically altered the history of both clubs, Parma turned their attention to a promising youngster called Alessandro Del Piero, who was just a bushy-haired 19-year-old at the time.

The Guardian - Sport

Worryingly, editor Dylan Jones said the image had been altered "no more than [for] any other cover star".

The Guardian - Arts

Running With Mother tells the story of 14-year-old Rudo whose schoolgirl life is irrevocably altered by the arrival of forces to her community to exterminate villagers who are said to be Ndebele dissidents – in effect, anyone and everyone who is Ndebele.

The Guardian

Yet while the external environment has altered radically, inside Saudi Arabia itself, as campaigners testify, little, if anything, has changed.

The Guardian

Have campaigning feminists really altered the Sun's trajectory?

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "altered" when you want to emphasize that something has been intentionally changed from its original form.

Common error

Avoid using "altered" for minor or insignificant changes; consider using words like "adjusted" or "tweaked" instead to maintain appropriate emphasis.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "altered" is as a past participle of the verb "alter", often used in the passive voice to indicate that something has been changed. It can also function as an adjective describing something that has undergone a change. Ludwig AI explains that the word is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "altered" is a versatile word indicating a deliberate modification or change, functioning both as a past participle and an adjective. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness in written English. Its frequent appearance in contexts such as News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business settings underscores its wide applicability and neutral tone. When writing, ensure that the nature and extent of the "altered" subject are clear, and consider alternatives like "modified" or "revised" for nuanced expression. Avoid overusing "altered" for trivial changes to maintain precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

modified

Synonymous replacement, indicating a change made to something.

changed

Basic synonym indicating a shift or transformation.

adjusted

Implies a slight or fine-tuned change.

revised

Suggests a formal or thorough change.

transformed

Implies a significant or dramatic change.

adapted

Indicates a change to suit new conditions.

converted

Implies a change in form, character or function.

reworked

Suggests something has been worked on again to improve it.

tweaked

Indicates a minor adjustment or fine-tuning.

amended

Implies a formal change to a document or agreement.

FAQs

How can I use "altered" in a sentence?

You can use "altered" to indicate that something has been modified or changed. For example: "The recipe was "altered" to reduce the amount of sugar."

What's a more formal word for "altered"?

A more formal alternative to "altered" could be "revised" or "modified", particularly in academic or professional contexts.

When should I use "altered" vs "changed"?

"Altered" suggests a deliberate modification, whereas "changed" is a more general term for becoming different. Use "altered" when the change was intentional. For example: The data was "altered".

What is the difference between "altered" and "adapted"?

"Altered" means to make or become different. "Adapted" means to adjust to specific conditions. For example, "The design was "altered" to fit the space" versus "The animal "adapted" to its new environment."