described that of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "described that of" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to refer to something that has been described in relation to another subject, but the construction is awkward and unclear. Example: "The report described that of the previous study, but it lacked clarity."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

(It did the same with another case I have described, that of Mary Anne Gehris, who was sentenced to a year -- to be served on probation -- for pulling another woman's hair).

The New York Times

The approach described, that of assessing microbial genome inventory and testing putative modular gene expression by mRNA quantification, is likely to remain an important tool in understanding individual microbial contributions within microbial community activities that maintain the Earth's nitrogen balance.

Methods in Enzymology

The ultimate goal is described, that of developing functional relations between bulk properties of such assemblages (e.g. their porosity and bulk density) and the low-level geometric factors that dictate the air flow behaviour, such as the equivalent perimeter length of the cross-sectional area available for flow, or average flow path tortuosity.

Applied Thermal Engineering

Although the time course of the serum gastrin level of the latter patient was not described, that of the former patient normalized promptly after the operation.

Surgical Case Reports

Neither approach suffers from the shallow sort of circularity of just described, that of assuming the normative force they set out to explain.

SEP

While the cellular events associated with ciliogenesis of solitary 9+0 primary cilia and multiple 9+2 cilia are well described, that of multiple 9+0 cilia in CPECs was totally unknown.

Biology Open

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

And yet describing Donna's impact on me is nearly as impossible as describing that of a parent; she seems equally essential to my DNA.

The New York Times - Style

Mr. Gaebler of Sony Electronics described that result of the new research as particularly valuable.

The New York Times

That's kind of what I was thinking when I described that kind of hallucination.

Huffington Post

Not that it's described that way, of course.

The New York Times

In a separate post, the company described that level of request as growing in keeping its user base.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity, replace "described that of" with more precise phrases like "described the nature of" or "explained the properties of" to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Do not use "described that of" when a more direct and clear phrasing is possible. It often leads to grammatically awkward sentences. Try using alternatives that specifies what exactly it is being described instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "described that of" functions as part of a verb phrase, attempting to connect a description to a subject. However, its structure is often grammatically flawed, leading to unclear or awkward sentences. As Ludwig AI states, it is not correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

68%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "described that of" is generally considered grammatically incorrect and leads to awkward phrasing. As Ludwig AI points out, it doesn't convey a clear meaning. While examples can be found, opting for clearer alternatives like "described the nature of" or "explained the properties of" is highly recommended. Its frequency is uncommon, appearing mostly in news and scientific contexts, but its use should be avoided in favor of more precise and grammatically sound options.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

described the nature of

Replaces the ambiguous "that of" with a clearer reference to the 'nature' or characteristics being described.

explained the properties of

Substitutes "described" with "explained", focusing on the attributes or qualities being conveyed.

detailed the attributes of

Uses "detailed" to emphasize a comprehensive description of specific qualities.

outlined the features of

Replaces "described" with "outlined", indicating a summary of key elements.

characterized the aspects of

Employs "characterized" to highlight the defining traits or facets.

illustrated the qualities of

Replaces "described" with "illustrated", suggesting a vivid or clear portrayal of traits.

specified the details of

Substitutes "described" with "specified" to emphasize precise information.

portrayed the image of

Replaces "described" with "portrayed", focusing on the overall picture or impression.

presented the account of

Emphasizes a narrative or recounting of events.

recounted the events of

Uses "recounted" to indicate a retelling of a sequence of happenings.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "described that of" for clarity?

Instead of "described that of", consider using phrases such as "described the nature of", "explained the properties of", or "detailed the attributes of" for improved clarity and grammatical correctness.

Is "described that of" grammatically correct?

The phrase "described that of" is generally considered grammatically incorrect or at least awkward. It's better to use clearer and more precise phrasing such as "described the characteristics of" or similar alternatives.

What's a more formal way to say "described that of"?

While "described that of" is generally discouraged, if you need a formal alternative, consider using phrases like "specified the parameters of", "delineated the features of", or "elucidated the properties of" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "described that of"?

Due to its awkwardness and potential for misinterpretation, it's generally not advisable to use "described that of" in any writing context. Opt for more direct and clear phrasing.