did not contain

USAGE SUMMARY

"did not contain" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something does not possess or include something else. For example, "The documents did not contain any new evidence."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Section did not contain subsecs.

Cornell University

Except these did not contain much iron.

The New York Times - Science

The package did not contain explosives.

The New York Times

It did not contain anything hazardous.

The New York Times

SRM 2787 did not contain OCls.

Journal of Chromatography A

One bed did not contain aeration tubes.

Ecological Engineering

(2) did not contain a period.

Cornell University

The mushrooms did not contain enough venom.

The Guardian - Books

The water did not contain lead.

The Guardian

Wood's statement did not contain a denial.

The Guardian

Dental follicles did not contain increased numbers of inflammatory cells.

Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology, and Endodontology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Choose synonyms like "lacked" or "did not include" to vary your writing style and avoid repetition.

Common error

Avoid using incorrect tenses, such as "does not contained". Remember that "contain" is the base form, and "did" indicates the past tense, so the correct form is "did not contain".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "did not contain" functions as a verb phrase used to indicate the absence of something within a specific entity, object, or context. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

40%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "did not contain" is a grammatically correct and very common verb phrase used to express the absence of something. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its function is to explicitly state the absence of a particular element across various contexts, from scientific reports to news articles. While it maintains a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal use, alternative phrases like "lacked" or "did not include" can offer variety in writing. When using this phrase, ensure the tense is correct and be aware of its broad applicability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

did not include

This alternative focuses on the absence of inclusion in a list or set.

did not have

This alternative is a more general way of expressing the absence of possession.

was without

This alternative is a simple and direct way of expressing absence.

was missing

This alternative directly states that something is absent.

lacked

This alternative is a more concise way of saying something was missing.

failed to feature

This alternative highlights the absence of a particular characteristic or element.

did not present

This alternative is useful when referring to the lack of appearance or demonstration of something.

was devoid of

This alternative emphasizes a complete absence, often with a more formal tone.

omitted

This alternative suggests a deliberate exclusion.

excluded

This alternative highlights a specific act of keeping something out.

FAQs

How can I use "did not contain" in a sentence?

Use "did not contain" to indicate the absence of something within something else, for example, "The package "did not contain" explosives".

What's a more formal alternative to "did not contain"?

More formal alternatives include "was devoid of" or ""lacked"", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "does not contained" instead of "did not contain"?

No, "does not contained" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is ""did not contain"" for past tense and "does not contain" for present tense.

What's the difference between "did not include" and "did not contain"?

"Did not include" focuses on exclusion from a specific list or set, while ""did not contain"" refers to the absence of something within a substance or object.