circumstances were obtained

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "circumstances were obtained" is not correct in standard written English.
It is unclear and does not convey a clear meaning, as "obtained" is typically used for acquiring something rather than describing circumstances. Example: "The circumstances were obtained through careful investigation." (This example still feels awkward and unclear.)

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Briefly, data on different background factors such as allergic heredity, various exposures and other family circumstances were obtained by parental questionnaires when the children were 2 3 months of age.

Clinical and Experimental Allergy

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

By performing a design of experiments, a model for the removal of 4-chlorophenol under these circumstances was obtained.

Journal of Environmental Management

Similar circumstance is obtained when the injection rate increases at the same oil price.

Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology

By means of a structured interview, data on the specific circumstances of the UE were obtained from the nurse and doctor involved.

Critical Care

For the characteristics of self-harm, including precipitant factors, clinical characteristics, symptoms of depression and circumstances of episode, data were obtained from the specialist psychiatric assessment.

BMC Psychiatry

Patient and operator demographics as well as the circumstances regarding the intubation were obtained from the CQI collection form including operator postgraduate year, method of intubation, difficult airway characteristics (DACs), and device(s) used, as well as the attempts and outcome of each attempt.

Annals of Intensive Care

PAMs and information on conditional approval or approval under exceptional circumstances for the corresponding products were obtained from the EPARs available on the EMA website [9].

Health Economics Review

Detailed assessments of psychosocial and material circumstances in childhood and adulthood were obtained.

BMJ Open

If anything, the effect of WSP was somewhat stronger than the effect of number of anatomical regions with pain ≥ 3. When both these circumstances were fulfilled, marked effects were obtained (about 30% reduction in work activity).

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

The merger is not without controversy because some Rosneft assets were obtained in unusual circumstances from rival Yukos, whose chief executive, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, languishes in a Siberian jail.

The Guardian - Business

Guantanamo Bay, where terror suspects have been stuck in legal limbo for more than a decade, shows how difficult it is to prosecute terror suspects whose confessions were obtained under questionable circumstances, such as torture.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing how information about a situation was acquired, use more precise verbs like "ascertained", "investigated", or "determined" instead of "obtained" for improved clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "obtained" in reference to abstract concepts like circumstances. Instead, use verbs that clearly convey the action taken, such as "investigated" or "clarified", to ensure grammatical correctness and precision.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "circumstances were obtained" attempts to describe the process of acquiring information about a particular situation. However, the phrasing is awkward. As Ludwig AI suggests, it's not a standard or grammatically sound expression.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "circumstances were obtained" might be understandable, it is grammatically awkward and not recommended for formal or precise writing. Ludwig AI flags this phrase as non-standard. Alternative phrasing like "details were gathered", "the situation was clarified", or "relevant factors were investigated" provide clearer and more grammatically sound options. The context of the source material leans heavily towards science and news, but irrespective of the register, it is best to use more accurate language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

details were gathered

Replaces "circumstances" with "details" and "obtained" with "gathered" to focus on the collection of specific information.

facts were determined

Highlights the determination of factual information, suggesting a more rigorous process.

relevant factors were gathered

Highlights the collection of factors pertinent to a specific situation.

information was ascertained

Emphasizes the process of finding something out for certain, using a more formal tone.

background was investigated

Emphasizes a thorough investigation of the background leading to a clearer understanding.

conditions were identified

Focuses on recognizing and specifying the existing conditions.

the situation was clarified

Shifts the focus to making a situation clear rather than acquiring circumstances.

the context was established

Emphasizes the creation or confirmation of a specific context.

the environment was assessed

Focuses on evaluating the surrounding environment rather than obtaining circumstances.

the scenario was understood

Shifts the focus to understanding a scenario, implying a comprehensive grasp of events.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "circumstances were obtained" to sound more natural?

Consider using phrases like "details were gathered", "the situation was clarified", or "relevant factors were investigated" for a clearer and more natural expression. You can also use alternatives like "information was ascertained" depending on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "circumstances were obtained"?

While understandable, the phrase is not ideal in standard English. "Obtained" typically refers to acquiring objects or information, not describing circumstances. Use verbs like "established", "determined", or "investigated" instead.

What's a formal way to say information about a situation was acquired?

In formal contexts, you could say "the situation was clarified", "the facts were determined", or "information was ascertained". These options convey a more rigorous and professional tone.

What's the difference between saying "circumstances were obtained" and "circumstances were investigated"?

"Circumstances were investigated" implies a detailed examination or inquiry into the situation, while "circumstances were obtained" is less precise and grammatically awkward. The term "circumstances were investigated" is the better choice.