anything that was left

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "anything that was left" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to items or remnants that remain after something has occurred or been taken away. Example: "After the party, I gathered anything that was left on the table."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

"We asked them to step back, and collected anything that was left behind," Mr. Jackson said.

The New York Times

They'd made arrangements month ago to take anything that was left here to the Homeless Coalition.

The New Yorker

"It got to the point of me eating anything that was left," Billy remembers, as one pictures entire loaves of bread toasted, fatted calves being slaughtered for the prodigious appetites of the sons.

BBC

She says she's heard that anything that was left after the police raided them and stole their money was pilfered by residents.

Vice

"When the earthquake hit the most populated area of the country, it not only destroyed hundreds of thousands of lives but also anything that was left in terms of infrastructure," said UNICEF Director of Emergency Programmes Louis-Georges Arsenault.

Unicef

And anything that was left out.... 1 Week Before: Make a personal packing list.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

There is thus religious – and therefore political – resistance to preserving anything that is left.

The Guardian - Opinion

I'll cash in my chips, and anything that's left I'll make the best use of.

The New Yorker

"Anything that's left out on the city streets is quickly going to look very dilapidated if someone's not out there taking care of it".

The New York Times

In their drive to refashion themselves into non-threatening winners, Republicans are laying waste to anything that's left of the English language as a meaningful political tool.

The New York Times

Mass society is full of movements without members, and that is a threat to democracy, because the media love them and they will ignore the parties or anything that's left to articulate these political agendas.

University of California, Berkeley

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "anything that was left", ensure the context clearly indicates what the 'anything' refers to. For example, specify "anything that was left of the building" rather than just "anything that was left" if the context isn't obvious.

Common error

Avoid using "anything that was left" without a clear reference point. Ensure your audience knows what the 'anything' refers to, to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "anything that was left" functions as a relative clause, modifying a noun or pronoun by specifying the remnants or residue after a particular event or action. Ludwig shows varied use in news, wikis and formal business contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

33%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "anything that was left" is a relative clause used to denote remaining items or remnants after a specific event. Ludwig's AI indicates this is a grammatically correct and usable phrase, although it appears with "Uncommon" frequency across varied contexts, with News & Media being the primary one. When using this phrase, ensure clarity regarding what 'anything' refers to in your sentence. Alternative phrases include "whatever remained" and "all that remained", depending on context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

whatever remained

Focuses on the remaining items, using 'whatever' to indicate an unspecified quantity.

all that remained

Emphasizes the completeness of the remaining items, using 'all' to indicate everything left.

what was remaining

Highlights the process of something still being in the state of remaining.

the remaining items

Specifically refers to the items that are still present.

the leftovers

A more concise term for items remaining, often used in the context of food or discarded objects.

the remnants

Highlights the remaining traces or fragments of something.

the balance

Refers to what remains after a subtraction or depletion process.

the residue

Implies a trace or substance that remains after a process has completed.

the surplus

Describes an amount that exceeds what is needed or used.

the rest

A simple and direct way to refer to the remaining portion of something.

FAQs

How can I use "anything that was left" in a sentence?

You can use "anything that was left" to refer to remnants or remaining items. For instance, "After the storm, we salvaged "anything that was left" of our belongings."

What are some alternatives to "anything that was left"?

Alternatives include "whatever remained", "all that remained", or "the leftovers". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it more formal to say "all that remained" instead of "anything that was left"?

Yes, "all that remained" often carries a slightly more formal tone than "anything that was left", which is more neutral. "Anything that was left" is perfectly acceptable in most contexts, though.

What's the difference between "the leftovers" and "anything that was left"?

"The leftovers" typically refers to uneaten food or discarded objects, while "anything that was left" can refer to a broader range of remaining items or remnants in various situations.