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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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described from

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "described from" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used incorrectly; the correct phrase would be "described as" or "described by." Example: "The painting was described as a masterpiece of modern art."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But genius is best described from the outside.

"He described from his perspective what had happened," Mr. Farmer said.

News & Media

The New York Times

The first was described from the coast of Algeria in groundwater in the 1954.

News & Media

The Guardian

The first of these, A. noysei, was described from Trinidad and Tobago in 1978.

News & Media

The Guardian

Woolf described from the outside by another person is likely to give us a more vivid picture of what Virginia Woolf was really like than Woolf described from the inside by herself.

News & Media

The New Yorker

"Starting Over" had a quiet premiere and the women were genuinely as described: "From all walks of life".

Rare soft-bodied possible chordates have been described from Lower Cambrian rocks.

Such reefs have been described from the Tirolian Alps of Austria and the Dolomites of Italy.

Abundant fossils of cycadeoids and cycads have been discovered and described from the Mesozoic Era.

Media research is described from a social-psychological perspective.

The device is described from both geometrical and timing viewpoints.

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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Replace "described from" with more grammatically sound alternatives like "described by" or "described in terms of" to enhance clarity and correctness. For example, instead of "The event was described from his perspective", use "The event was described by him" or "The event was described in terms of his perspective."

Common error

Avoid using "from" to indicate the source or method of a description. "From" typically denotes origin or starting point, not the agent or framework of description. Use "by" to indicate the source and "in terms of" to indicate the framework.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

79%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "described from" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically intended to specify a perspective or source. However, it's often used incorrectly, as Ludwig AI's analysis indicates.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

20%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "described from" is frequently used, but it's generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. Ludwig AI highlights that more appropriate alternatives include "described by", used to indicate the source of the description, and "described as", used to indicate the nature of the description. Although examples exist across various sources like scientific articles and news media, adhering to correct grammatical usage is crucial for clear communication. Always opt for alternatives to avoid grammatical errors and enhance the credibility of your writing.

FAQs

How can I correctly use "described" in a sentence?

Use "described by" to indicate who or what is providing the description (e.g., "The process was described by the researcher"), or "described as" to indicate the nature of the description (e.g., "The artwork was described as innovative").

What are some alternatives to "described from"?

Consider using "described by", "described in terms of", or "characterized by" depending on the context. Each offers a more grammatically sound way to express the idea.

Is "described from" grammatically correct?

No, "described from" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. It's better to use "described by" or "described as" to avoid grammatical errors.

What's the difference between "described by" and "described from"?

"Described by" indicates the agent doing the describing, whereas "described from" is not a standard or correct usage. Always use "described by" to specify the source of the description.

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Source & Trust

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Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: