detained from

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "detained from" is not correct in standard English usage.
The correct expression would typically be "detained for" or "prevented from." Example: "He was detained for questioning by the authorities."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

She was detained from Saturday until Monday but then released without charge.

Independent

As he spoke by phone, he said he could see someone detained from his window.

The New York Times

It said he was detained from Dec. 15, 2003, until May 1 , 2005

The New York Times - Health

According to Canadian border authorities, 6,768 individuals were detained from April 2014 to March 2015.

The Guardian

Upon arrival there a Chinese immigrant could be detained from weeks to years before being granted or denied entry.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The Channel-i and Bangla Vision TV stations said the guards had been detained from their camps across the country.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

Distress, in law, process that enables a person to seize and detain from a wrongdoer some chattel, or item of personal property, as a pledge for the redressing of an injury, the performance of a duty, or the satisfaction of a demand.

Encyclopedia Britannica

During the current Iraq war, statistics have shown that about twenty five percent of 'foreign' fighters detained are from Africa, especially from East Africa.

Huffington Post

The number of juveniles detained dropped from 524 to 436 from December to January alone, which the agency attributed to the new state laws.

Los Angeles Times

It was unclear how prosecutors linked them to the May 6 violence — Ms. Sobchak did not attend the event at all, and Mr. Navalny and Mr. Udaltsov were detained far from the clashes, as they prepared to speak from a podium.

The New York Times

Most of those detained were from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "detained from" in formal writing. Opt for grammatically correct alternatives like "detained for" or "prevented from" to ensure clarity and credibility.

Common error

Writers sometimes incorrectly use "from" instead of "for" or "in" when describing the reason or location of detention. Remember that detention usually happens for a reason (e.g., questioning) or in a place (e.g., a detention center).

Linguistic Context

The phrase "detained from" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically intended to specify the starting point or duration of someone's detention. However, according to Ludwig AI, this construction is not grammatically correct in standard English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Wiki

16%

Science

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Formal & Business

8%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "detained from" appears in a number of sources, including news and online encyclopedias, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect according to Ludwig AI. It is more appropriate to use alternatives like "detained for" or rephrase sentences to use constructions like "prevented from". As a result, while its frequency is common, particularly in news and media, its use should be approached with caution and avoided in formal writing to ensure clarity and correctness. Remember to consider the context and aim for grammatical precision when describing detention.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

held in custody

Focuses on the state of being held by authorities, similar to being detained.

kept in detention

Emphasizes the act of keeping someone in a state of detention.

arrested and held

Highlights the arrest aspect and subsequent holding of an individual.

confined to

Indicates restriction to a specific place, similar to detention.

prevented from leaving

Focuses on restricting someone's departure, which detention achieves.

incarcerated at

Indicates imprisonment in a certain facility.

imprisoned in

Indicates imprisonment inside a certain location.

taken into custody

Emphasizes the action of being taken by authorities.

restricted within

Highlights the limitation of movement within a defined area.

kept under guard

Focuses on being watched and prevented from escaping.

FAQs

Is "detained from" grammatically correct?

No, the phrase "detained from" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. It's better to use phrases like "detained for" or "prevented from" depending on the intended meaning.

What's a more accurate way to say "detained from"?

Instead of "detained from", consider using "detained for" (e.g., "He was detained for questioning") or "prevented from" (e.g., "He was prevented from leaving the country").

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

Use "detain" with prepositions like "for" to indicate the reason (e.g., "detained for investigation") or use it in constructions like "prevented from" to show that someone was stopped from doing something.

What are some alternatives to "detained from" that I can use in my writing?

Alternatives include "held in custody", "kept in detention", or rephrasing the sentence to use a more accurate preposition like "for" or restructuring it to use "prevented from".