find to contain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "find to contain" is not correct in standard written English.
It is likely intended to express the discovery of something within a certain context, but the construction is awkward and unclear. Example: "The researchers find that the sample contains a high level of contaminants."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

On the other hand, Descartes begins the Principles of Philosophy with the remark, "It seems that the only way of freeing ourselves from these [prejudices of childhood] is to make the effort, once in the course of our life, to doubt everything which we find to contain even the smallest suspicion of error" (Descartes, 1 193).

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The bottled water was found to contain chlorine bleach.

The New York Times

The package was found to contain cocaine, the Coast Guard said.

The New York Times

Many of them were also found to contain pig DNA.

The Guardian

It was later found to contain data concerning flight training.

The New York Times

Some were found to contain twice as much cholesterol.

The Guardian - Opinion

To Reed's surprise, the new tissue specimen was found to contain no sign of cancer.

The New Yorker

They were found to contain 265 mummified former denizens of Vac, from priests to ordinary townsfolk.

The Guardian

The scandal climaxed with the news that some Findus lasagnes were found to contain 100% horsemeat.

The Guardian - Opinion

Many Stone Age graves, too, have been found to contain red ochre.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Both their samples were found to contain the banned amphetamine oxilofrine.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "find to contain". Instead, use clearer and grammatically correct alternatives such as "find that it contains", "discover that it contains", or "is found to contain".

Common error

Do not directly translate from other languages or assume a literal word-for-word construction. The English language has specific idiomatic expressions for conveying the discovery of contents; using "find to contain" deviates from these norms.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "find to contain" attempts to express the act of discovering something includes specific contents. However, it's a grammatically incorrect construction. Ludwig AI confirms that it doesn't conform to standard English usage, suggesting alternative formulations.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "find to contain" is a grammatically flawed phrase. Ludwig AI analysis indicates it's best to avoid this construction. Use alternatives like "find that it contains" or the passive form "found to contain" for clarity and correctness. While the intended purpose is to report a discovery, the incorrect phrasing undermines the message and credibility. Correct usage ensures effective communication across different contexts, like news, science, and formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

discover it contains

Replaces "find" with "discover" and restructures the sentence for clarity.

determine it contains

Uses "determine" instead of "find", implying a more conclusive discovery.

reveal it contains

Emphasizes the act of making something known that was previously hidden.

uncover that it contains

Suggests a more thorough and investigative process of finding.

establish that it contains

Implies proving something definitively.

detect presence of

Focuses on the act of detecting a substance or element.

identify as including

Shifts the focus to identifying components within something.

observe within

Suggests observation as the method of finding contents.

notice its composition

Focuses on noticing the elements that make up something.

ascertain that it holds

Implies finding out and confirming that something contains something else.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "find to contain" to be grammatically correct?

You can replace "find to contain" with more standard English phrases like "find that it contains", "discover that it contains", or "is found to contain". For example, instead of "Researchers find to contain new evidence", use "Researchers find that it contains new evidence".

What is a more formal way to say "find to contain"?

In formal writing, consider using phrases such as "determine that it contains" or "establish that it contains". These options, like "determine that it contains", lend a sense of authority and thoroughness to your statement.

Is "find to contain" ever considered correct in specific contexts?

No, "find to contain" is not considered correct in standard English. It's always preferable to use alternative phrasing for clarity and grammatical accuracy. The passive voice version, "found to contain", is a more acceptable option.

What's the difference between "find to contain" and "found to contain"?

"Find to contain" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided. "Found to contain", like "found to contain", is a passive construction that is grammatically correct and commonly used to indicate that something has been discovered to include something else.