copied

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "copied" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has been duplicated or reproduced from an original source. Example: "I have copied the document and sent it to your email for review."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

You spend seven or eight years working on something, and then it's copied.

The Guardian - Tech

To make things worse, it was not a myth copied and perpetuated solely by the tabloids; the broadsheets were equally responsible for repeating it, and perhaps did more to legitimise it than the tabloids.

The Guardian - Opinion

That's what I did: I copied my favourite singers and learned – singing for hours and hours, years and years.

The Guardian - Music

And, incidentally, since it has so shamelessly copied 300's visual style over the years, look out for lots of close-ups of crying girls' faces surrounded by fire on the next series of Top Gear.

The Guardian - Film

Within months, the Shias of the eastern province copied the methods of protesters abroad and began to demonstrate in their own neighbourhoods.

The Guardian

Various facts, each copied off Wikipedia on account of the fact that, while I know that my visit to BBC1's pre-match magazine show Football Focus has brought me to the "hallowed turf" of a famous stadium, my knowledge of football leaves everything to be desired.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"We had copied the translated [western] information into our books".

The Guardian

It is a situation that makes the original wall look like the intruder, a piece of Disneyfied old London copied and pasted from elsewhere.

The Guardian - Arts

Thus the right are heard to argue that fascism copied communism: before becoming a fascist, Mussolini was a socialist; Hitler, too, was a National Socialist; concentration camps and genocidal violence were features of the Soviet Union a decade before Nazis resorted to them; the annihilation of the Jews has a clear precedent in the annihilation of the class enemy, etc.

The Guardian

The European commission also fears the plan would be copied by others.

The Guardian

Both parties were criticised for their broadcasts in June, with Labour opting for the star power of Geri Halliwell, while the Conservatives copied the negative ad campaigning of US Republicans.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "copied" to denote a direct and intentional act of duplication, differentiating it from coincidental similarities.

Common error

Ensure you're not using "copied" when "inspired by" is more appropriate. "Copied" implies a direct and often unauthorized duplication, while "inspired by" suggests influence without outright replication.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "copied" is as the past participle of the verb copy. It is used to form the passive voice or as an adjective, indicating that something has been duplicated. Ludwig AI confirms its frequent usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the term "copied" functions primarily as the past participle of copy, indicating an act of duplication or replication. Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically correct and "very common" across a range of registers, from neutral news reports to formal business documents. While its usage is generally straightforward, it's crucial to distinguish it from terms like "inspired by" to accurately convey the nature of the relationship between the original and the duplicate. Key alternatives include "replicated", "duplicated", and "imitated", each carrying slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

replicated

Emphasizes exact duplication, often in a scientific or technical context.

duplicated

Highlights the creation of an identical item or instance.

imitated

Suggests following a model or example, often implying a lack of originality.

mirrored

Implies a close resemblance or reflection of something else.

mirrored

Suggests a close resemblance or reflection of something else.

cloned

Indicates a precise genetic or digital copy.

emulated

Implies striving to equal or surpass the original.

adopted

Suggests taking something and using it as one's own.

borrowed

Indicates temporary use of something belonging to another.

parodied

Implies imitation for comedic or satirical effect.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "copied"?

You can use alternatives like "replicated", "duplicated", or "imitated" depending on the context.

Is "copied from" grammatically correct?

Yes, "copied from" is grammatically correct and commonly used to indicate the source of the duplication. For example, "The design was copied from a popular website".

What is the difference between "copied" and "adapted"?

"Copied" means to reproduce something exactly, while "adapted" means to modify something to suit a new purpose or condition. The key difference lies in whether the original form is retained.

How to use "copied" in a sentence?

You can use "copied" to describe something that has been directly reproduced. For example, "The student copied the answer from the textbook" or "The software was copied illegally".