became clean

USAGE SUMMARY

"became clean" is a grammatically correct phrase that can be used in written English.
It is usually used as an example of how something changed from being dirty to clean. For example, "After washing the glass, it became clean."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Desks became clean, except for the computer with a Nano or BlackBerry or iPhone tethered to it (like mother and child).

The New York Times

We just became clean eaters.

Huffington Post

However, this genius of social engineering got off the drugs, gained weight and became clean shaven.

Huffington Post

Townley's career as an artist didn't take off until he became clean and sober, five years ago.

Huffington Post

Their next album was crucial because of the commercial disappointment of Done With Mirrors, and as the band members became clean, they worked hard to make their next album a success.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

How crude water becomes clean The first stage of water cleaning at Voda Donbasa filter station is a technical water treatment.

Unicef

We have to become clean human beings.

The New Yorker

Today is the day I will become clean and new!

The Guardian - Lifestyle

She didn't become clean and sober until she was 26 — about Andy's age now.

The New York Times

Plain soap and water are all that are needed to become clean, she noted.

The New York Times - Health

For carbon-based power sources to become "clean," their gaseous waste product, carbon dioxide, must be captured and stored cheaply, safely and permanently.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a process of becoming clean, specify what the subject was cleaned from to provide more context.

Common error

Avoid using "became clean" in highly formal or scientific writing where more precise terminology like "sterilized" or "purified" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "became clean" functions as a predicate, describing a change of state. As indicated by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used to illustrate a transformation from a state of dirtiness to one of cleanliness. Examples show usage across various domains.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

10%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "became clean" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a transformation to a state of cleanliness. While Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and general use, it is relatively rare, appearing most frequently in news and media. When using this phrase, it's important to consider the context and whether a more specific term might be more appropriate. For instance, in scientific contexts, "sterilized" or "purified" might be more precise. As is evident from the usage examples, the expression is not limited to physical cleanliness; it may, for example, also describe a person's moral state.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

turned spotless

Focuses specifically on the removal of dirt and grime, resulting in a pristine state.

became purified

Implies a removal of impurities or contaminants, often in a more abstract or spiritual sense.

became hygienic

Highlights the improvement in sanitary conditions, suitable for health-related contexts.

became cleansed

Suggests a thorough cleaning, often with ritualistic or symbolic connotations.

became unsoiled

Emphasizes the absence of dirt or stains, focusing on the visual aspect of cleanliness.

achieved cleanliness

Focuses on the act of reaching a state of being clean, highlighting effort.

was rendered clean

Highlights that the action of cleaning was performed to something by an external factor

is now clean

Puts more focus on the current status after being cleaned instead of the action.

resulted in cleanliness

Focuses on the positive result, the cleanliness itself, rather than the process of achieving it.

became neat

Implies being tidy or well-organized, often used in reference to things rather than people.

FAQs

How can I use "became clean" in a sentence?

You can use "became clean" to describe the result of a cleaning process, for example: "After scrubbing, the floor became clean."

What's a more formal alternative to "became clean"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "became sterilized", "became purified", or "became sanitized".

What is the difference between "became clean" and "was cleaned"?

"Became clean" emphasizes the transformation of the subject itself, while "was cleaned" focuses on the action performed on the subject.

Is it appropriate to use "became clean" to describe a person?

While grammatically correct, using "became clean" to describe a person is less common. Phrases like "became sober" or "cleaned up their act" are more typical depending on what you want to convey.