but none were found

USAGE SUMMARY

'but none were found' is correct and can be used in written English.
For example, "The detectives searched the suspect's car, but none were found."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The police initially claimed that the men had a weapon, but none were found.

The New York Times

The police brought in bomb-sniffing dogs and a robot to search for other explosive devices, but none were found.

The New York Times

The girl was also examined for bruises by the school nurse in the presence of the principal, according to the documents, but none were found.

The New York Times

A search warrant was served at the home of Wright's former wife to look for firearms and a cellphone, but none were found.

The New York Times - Sports

The sex-specific band was represented in females but none were found in the males.

Molecular and Cellular Probes

The degradation products from the pesticides resulting from treatment were monitored, but none were found.

Food Chemistry

Specimens were sent to three laboratories for standard toxicology tests to detect metals and drugs, but none were found.

BBC

These were analysed for dissolved BTEX compounds (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzenes and xylenes) by purge and trap-GC but none were found at the > 10 ppb level.

Geochemical Transactions

References included in each of the selected papers were also examined in order to identify possible suitable studies but none were found.

Strategies in Trauma and Limb Reconstruction

One possible explanation is the presence of parasitic worms, but none were found in the 10 samples that the team dissected.

Science Magazine

Some negative ions were detected in the reaction zone, but none were found in this flame more than 1 mm downstream of the reaction zone, i.e. in the burnt gas.

Combustion and Flame

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "but none were found", ensure it logically follows a statement indicating a search or expectation. For example, "The team searched the area thoroughly, but none were found."

Common error

Avoid using "but none were found" as a standalone sentence. It needs a preceding clause that establishes what was being sought. Without context, it can sound incomplete or confusing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "but none were found" typically functions as a conjunctive phrase. It connects a preceding clause describing an action or search with the subsequent realization that the search yielded no results. This is supported by Ludwig's examples, where the phrase consistently follows a description of a search or investigation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

61%

News & Media

32%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "but none were found" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase that indicates a lack of success in a search or investigation. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its usage across various contexts, including science, news, and general writing. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is suitable for written English and effectively conveys the absence of something that was being sought. While predominantly used in scientific and news-related content, it maintains a neutral register and should follow a clause setting the context for the search or expectation. When aiming for variety, alternative expressions like "however nothing was discovered" or "yet nothing turned up" can be used.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

however, they were not located

Focuses on the failure to find specific items or people.

however, nothing was discovered

Replaces "none were found" with a more general term for discovery.

but nothing could be located

Focuses on the inability to locate something.

yet, nothing turned up

Uses a phrasal verb to indicate a lack of results from a search or investigation.

though, no one discovered anything

Highlights lack of discovery by anyone.

still, there was nothing

Emphasizes the absence of something despite expectations.

nonetheless, they remained absent

Highlights the continued absence of the searched item.

even so, nothing materialized

Suggests that expected results did not appear.

despite this, no trace existed

Emphasizes that no evidence of something was present.

in spite of this, there was no trace

Emphasizes the absence of any indication or evidence.

FAQs

How can I use "but none were found" in a sentence?

Use "but none were found" after describing a search or expectation. For example, "The police searched the building, but none were found", indicating that no one was located.

What is a synonym for "but none were found"?

Alternatives include "however nothing was discovered", "yet nothing turned up", or "still there was nothing" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "but none was found"?

No, "but none were found" is the correct phrasing when referring to multiple items. "None" implies a plural context in this construction, requiring the plural verb "were".

What does "but none were found" imply?

It implies that a search or investigation took place, but it failed to locate what was being looked for. This could be objects, people, or even evidence.