detect

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "detect" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to the action of discovering or noticing the presence of something. For example: "The detective was able to detect the criminal's whereabouts."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

McDermott says his squad is too limited and needs January reinforcements – most fans agree, but many of them also detect unexpected limitations in McDermott's approach and are eager to see some new ideas as well as new faces.

The Guardian - Sport

And if you detect it among your staff, can you fix it before disaster strikes?

The Guardian

She says it is possible to detect poor leadership simply by observing your organisation's environment: a room of employees experiencing poor leadership will look unhappy, demotivated, and unsure of what they are doing.

The Guardian

"The best chance we have to detect these crimes is by avoiding people at all costs".

The Guardian

Every time we detect one it's a minor miracle Howard Jones In the hunt for Sky and Hope, covert surveillance was no help.

The Guardian

"Essentially the idea is simple; you just swallow a pill with the nano particles, which are decorated with antibodies or molecules that detect other molecules," explained Andrew Conrad, head of life sciences inside the Google's "moonshot" X research lab to WSJD Live conference in California Tuesday.

The Guardian - Tech

They say there is "no effective system in place" to detect children and adolescents at risk because of "the deleterious effect of indefinite detention" and "no child specific mental health services on the island (i.e. no paediatric psychologist or psychiatrist)".

The Guardian

Bernie has lately hit on the notion that F1 would be considerably enlivened if water were sprayed on the track at random moments during the race (I'm not sure, but does anyone else detect a Flashdance influence here?).

The Guardian - Sport

Wikipedia's administrators told the Guardian they believed that Shapps has used alternative accounts that were not fully and openly disclosed in order to "split his editing history, so that other editors were not able to easily detect patterns in his contributions.

The Guardian

The Spanish federation said the committee had been unable to detect "deliberate time-wasting" on Messi's part but only "a normal reaction from someone who had suffered an aggression by a spectator".

The Guardian - Sport

In a similar way, DNN technology can detect patterns akin to the way biological systems recognize patterns.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "detect", ensure the subject performing the detection and the object being detected are clearly defined for clarity.

Common error

While "detect" is a versatile verb, avoid overuse in formal writing. Vary your vocabulary by using synonyms like "identify", "discern", or "ascertain" to enhance readability and avoid repetition.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "detect" is as a transitive verb, requiring a direct object. It signifies the act of finding or discovering something, often through careful observation or specialized tools, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "detect" is a versatile and frequently used transitive verb that signifies discovering or noticing something. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread applicability across various contexts, from scientific research to news reporting. While generally neutral in register, varying your vocabulary with synonyms like "identify" or "discern" can enhance the sophistication of your writing. Remember to use "detect" without prepositions like "of", and ensure clarity by defining both the subject and object of the action. With careful attention to context and vocabulary variation, "detect" remains a valuable tool in your writing arsenal.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

identify

Focuses on recognizing something specific from a range of possibilities.

discover

Implies finding something unexpectedly or while searching for something else.

notice

Suggests becoming aware of something, often without actively searching.

observe

Emphasizes careful and attentive watching to gain information.

discern

Highlights the ability to perceive or recognize something subtle or difficult to see.

ascertain

Implies finding something out for certain after an investigation.

spot

Suggests quickly noticing something, often visually.

recognize

Highlights the ability to identify something previously known or encountered.

uncover

Suggests revealing something that was previously hidden or unknown.

sense

Implies perceiving something through intuition or feeling.

FAQs

How can I use "detect" in a sentence?

The verb "detect" is used to describe discovering or noticing something, often through careful searching or examination. For example, "The sensor can "detect" even the slightest movement."

What are some alternatives to "detect"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "identify", "discover", "notice", or "discern" as substitutes for "detect".

Is it correct to say "detect of" instead of "detect"?

No, the correct usage is simply "detect" without the preposition "of". For instance, "The machine can "detect" flaws" is correct, while "The machine can detect of flaws" is grammatically incorrect.

What's the difference between "detect" and "discover"?

"Detect" implies finding something, often through specific methods or instruments. "Discover" often suggests finding something new or unexpected. For example, one might "detect" a faint signal, but "discover" a new planet.