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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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discovered for

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "discovered for" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express that something was found or revealed for a specific purpose or audience, but it lacks clarity without additional context. Example: "The new species was discovered for the benefit of scientific research."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Our friends are investigating, it will be discovered for sure".

News & Media

The New York Times

Bessemer process, the first method discovered for mass-producing steel.

How she'd been discovered for modeling by a gargoyle of a man on a train.

News & Media

The New Yorker

A major work by Leonardo had not been discovered for more than a century.

News & Media

The New Yorker

I believe that, during my lifetime, a cure can be discovered for this catastrophic disease.

It didn't take much time after being discovered for the neighbourhoods to gentrify.

News & Media

The Guardian

We discovered, for example, that Khalid Shaikh Mohammed was the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks.

News & Media

The New York Times

Socially marooned, I discovered, for the first time, really, the escape of reading.

Figure 2 Environmental innovation discovered for a production plant.

Multiple fascinating, but nonobvious designs were discovered for this application.

Its basic structure has been discovered for the first time.

Science & Research

Science Magazine
Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Rephrase to clarify the purpose of the discovery; instead of "discovered for", specify the intended use or beneficiary directly.

Common error

Avoid using "discovered for" when the reason for the discovery is unclear or weakly connected; clarify the purpose or impact of the discovery to improve clarity.

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

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

81%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "discovered for" functions primarily as a verb phrase that suggests the finding of something with a specific purpose or intended use. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase is grammatically questionable. While used in various contexts, its structure often requires rephrasing for improved clarity and precision.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

48%

News & Media

33%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "discovered for" is a frequently used expression, particularly in scientific and news contexts, to indicate that something was found with a specific purpose in mind. However, as Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is considered grammatically questionable and often lacks clarity. Its usage can be improved by rephrasing to directly specify the purpose or beneficiary of the discovery. Better alternatives include “identified to”, “intended for”, or specifying the purpose directly following "discovered". While common, especially in science and media, its ambiguity suggests that more precise phrasing is often preferable for improved clarity and grammatical accuracy.

FAQs

How can I rephrase a sentence using "discovered for" to make it more grammatically sound?

Instead of saying "This was discovered for that purpose", try "This was "discovered to" serve that purpose", or "This discovery was made for that purpose".

What's a more appropriate substitute for "discovered for" in scientific writing?

In scientific contexts, use alternatives like "identified to", "found to be", or "determined to be" to maintain precision and clarity.

Is there a difference between saying "discovered for" and "designed for"?

"Discovered for" implies an accidental or unexpected finding that happens to serve a purpose, whereas "designed for" suggests a deliberate creation with a specific goal in mind.

When is it acceptable to use "discovered for", and when should I avoid it?

While commonly used, "discovered for" is often grammatically awkward. It's best to avoid it in formal writing and replace it with a clearer alternative that specifies the purpose directly, like "identified for" or "intended for".

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Source & Trust

81%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: