but found to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "but found to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that something was discovered or determined after investigation or examination. Example: "The results of the experiment were promising, but found to be inconclusive upon further analysis."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Farben, was considered as a lethal agent but found to be impractical.

The New Yorker

Sixty works from the National Museum were intact, while some were recovered but found to be damaged.

The New York Times

Republicans stormed back last year to take the House, but found, to their frustration, that winning control of one chamber does not constitute a mandate.

The New York Times

On the right were a kind that looked like a variety I used to grow, but found to be completely different: Nearly as hard as an apple, they had amazing intensity — almost like tomato paste in crunchy form.

The New York Times

One example is Jan Thomas, who wanted to celebrate her adopted daughter's small stand against injustice, but found to her surprise that Goode was more interested in her story as a mother.

The Guardian

"For having lived long, I have experienced many instances of being obliged by better Information, or fuller Consideration, to change Opinions even on important Subjects, which I once thought right, but found to be otherwise".

The New Yorker

She recently opposed plans by Mr. Rajoy's government to grant early release to a member of ETA, the violent Basque separatist group, who was jailed for murder but found to be terminally ill with cancer.

The New York Times

At present, clinical management of women referred to colposcopy but found to have <CIN2 remains unclear.

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

A more complete joint model incorporating all frequency/altitude/replicate combinations was attempted but found to be too computationally expensive.

Mathematics-in-Industry Case Studies

The degree of collaboration between gminas and the Ministry of Transport is explored, but found to be limited.

Journal of Transport Geography

Two pretreatments were investigated but found to result in little difference in the resulting TCP formed on AA2024-T3.

Surface and Coatings Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "but found to" to introduce a contrasting discovery or result, especially when something was initially expected to be different. For example, "The experiment was designed to prove the hypothesis, but found to contradict it."

Common error

Avoid using "but found to" in a way that creates redundancy. For instance, avoid phrases like "but it was found to be found" because the repetition weakens the sentence. Focus on concise phrasing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "but found to" serves as a connector and verb phrase, introducing a contrasting finding or result. Ludwig examples show its use in modifying nouns or clauses to indicate a discovered attribute or state. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

53%

News & Media

34%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "but found to" is a versatile connector, primarily used to introduce contrasting findings or results after an investigation or observation. Ludwig AI confirms it's correct and usable in written English. It appears most frequently in science and news contexts, indicating a neutral to slightly formal register. When using this phrase, be mindful of avoiding redundancy and ensuring clarity in your writing. Consider alternatives like "but discovered to be" or "but determined to be" for subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

but discovered to be

Replaces "found" with "discovered", emphasizing the act of uncovering something previously unknown.

but determined to be

Replaces "found" with "determined", suggesting a more conclusive or decisive finding.

but revealed to be

Replaces "found" with "revealed", highlighting the unveiling of something previously hidden or obscure.

but ascertained to be

Replaces "found" with "ascertained", indicating a careful and thorough investigation leading to a certain conclusion.

but it turned out to be

Uses a more colloquial expression to indicate the eventual outcome or discovery.

but proved to be

Replaces "found" with "proved", suggesting that something was demonstrated or verified.

but it was learned that

Shifts the focus to the acquisition of knowledge or information.

but it was realized that

Emphasizes the sudden understanding or awareness of something.

however, it was found that

Adds "however" for a stronger contrast, while keeping "found that" to introduce a discovery.

yet it was determined that

Similar to the previous one but using the term "determined" instead of "found".

FAQs

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

Use "but found to" to introduce a discovery or result that contrasts with a previous expectation or assumption. For example, "The initial analysis suggested a positive outcome, but further investigation "but found to" be inconclusive."

What are some alternatives to "but found to"?

Alternatives include "but discovered to be", "but determined to be", or "but revealed to be". The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it always necessary to include "to be" after "but found"?

While "but found" can sometimes stand alone, including "to be" often provides clarity and grammatical completeness, especially in formal writing. It's generally safer to include "to be" unless the context makes it clearly redundant.

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

"But found to be" is a more concise phrasing, while "but was found to be" adds emphasis on the process of finding. The choice depends on the desired emphasis and flow of the sentence. Both are grammatically correct, but "but found to be" is often preferred for its brevity.