deleted

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "deleted" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that has been removed, removed from a document, or made unavailable. For example: "The document has been updated, and all outdated content has been deleted."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"The tweets were swiftly deleted and we apologise for any offence".

The Guardian

But does this give the commenter a right to have a comment deleted by withdrawing their consent?

The Guardian - Opinion

He said: "There is no right given by the judgment for people to have their personal data deleted from the search engine results.

The Guardian - Tech

Khawaja later deleted the original tweet and called it a false alarm.

The Guardian

Clinton said she deleted emails – some 30,000 in total – that she described as personal in nature, such as yoga routines, plans for her mother's funeral or her daughter's wedding.

The Guardian

"I have deleted my Twitter account and will be making sure that I impress upon the rest of the squad the importance of realising what damage ill-judged remarks on social media can do," Coles said.

The Guardian - Sport

Apple security director Augustin Farrugia told the court that the music was deleted for security reasons and that hackers including Jon Lech Johansen also known as "DVD Jon" and software such as the digital rights management removal tool Requiem had made Apple "very paranoid".

The Guardian - Tech

Officials deleted the original message, stating that it "was meant to be ironic".

The Guardian - Music

When it arrives, a week later, the sentence dismissing Baumeister's "catchy metaphor" has been deleted.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I emailed them numerous times but I never managed to get the page deleted.

The Guardian - Tech

The comment, made last September from the officer's private Facebook account, has since been deleted.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about digital content, specify what type of content was "deleted" (e.g., "deleted" files, "deleted" accounts) for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "deleted" when "deactivated" is more appropriate. A "deleted" account is permanently removed, whereas a deactivated account is temporarily suspended.

Linguistic Context

The word "deleted" primarily functions as the past participle of the verb "delete", indicating that an action of removal or obliteration has been completed. This is supported by Ludwig, showcasing examples where "deleted" is used to describe the state of something that has been removed.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "deleted" functions primarily as the past participle of "delete", indicating the completion of a removal action. It is a grammatically correct and very common term used across various contexts, as validated by Ludwig. While synonyms like "removed", "erased", and "obliterated" offer similar meanings, choosing the right word depends on the specific context. Remember to differentiate between "deleted" and "deactivated" to avoid confusion. The term's register is generally neutral, making it suitable for a range of communications, including news reports and technical documents. Ludwig supports the claim that "deleted" is a prevalent term with widespread usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

removed

Focuses on the action of taking something away, often permanently.

erased

Emphasizes the obliteration of something, as if wiping it clean.

obliterated

Suggests complete destruction or removal beyond any trace.

canceled

Implies stopping something that was scheduled or planned.

expunged

Refers to formally erasing or removing something, especially from a record.

taken down

Indicates removing something from a website or online platform.

withdrawn

Signifies taking something back or retracting it.

cut

Simply means to remove part of something, often text.

excised

Implies surgically removing something, often used metaphorically.

eliminated

Highlights the complete removal of something, leaving no remainder.

FAQs

How do I use "deleted" in a sentence?

You can use "deleted" to describe something that has been removed or erased. For example, "The message was quickly deleted after the error was noticed."

What is a good synonym for "deleted"?

Alternatives to "deleted" include "removed", "erased", or "obliterated", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "deleted" or "removed"?

The choice between "deleted" and "removed" depends on the context. "Deleted" is often used for digital content, while "removed" is more general.

What's the difference between "deleted" and "archived"?

"Deleted" means something is permanently removed, while "archived" means something is moved to a storage location for later use or reference.