found to possess

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "found to possess" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where something has been discovered or determined to have a particular quality or characteristic. Example: "The study revealed that the compound was found to possess unique antibacterial properties."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

One was found to possess leaflets including more inflammatory material.

The Economist

DNases were found to possess bifunctional (DNA/RNA) activities.

Postharvest Biology and Technology

The polyimides also were found to possess low dielectric constants.

Polymer

And the government introduced severe criminal penalties for people found to possess a prohibited weapon.

The Guardian

The outgoing president, found to possess a stolen BMW, only narrowly survived impeachment for corruption.

The Economist

The police statement also says that that he was "found to possess a small amount of marihuana [sic]".

The Guardian - Music

The regenerated DKSC was found to possess properties similar to those of native DKSC.

Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering

Calcium-bearing slags have also been found to possess potential for carbon capture and storage (CCS).

Soils and Foundations

Consumers of newer store designs are found to possess a heightened sensitivity to price perceptions.

Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services

The recently synthesised carbon honeycombs (CHCs) are found to possess random cell shapes.

Carbon

The composite was found to possess a high specific capacitance of ∼368.4 F/g.

European Polymer Journal

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing scientific findings, use "found to possess" to clearly state that something exhibits a particular property or characteristic. For example, "The compound was found to possess antibacterial properties."

Common error

While "found to possess" is generally acceptable, avoid using it in overly informal contexts where simpler alternatives like "found to have" or "has" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "found to possess" typically functions as a verb phrase indicating that something has been discovered or determined to have a specific attribute or quality. According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

75%

News & Media

23%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "found to possess" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression, particularly in scientific and news reporting. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for contexts where describing a discovery or determined attribute is necessary. While alternatives like "discovered to have" or "determined to have" exist, the original phrase maintains a level of formality appropriate for academic and professional settings. This phrase appears most often in scientific sources, followed by news and media, underscoring its relevance in objective and factual communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

discovered to have

Replaces "found" with "discovered", emphasizing the act of finding something out.

determined to have

Substitutes "found" with "determined", implying a more formal or investigative finding.

revealed to possess

Uses "revealed" instead of "found", suggesting that the possession was previously unknown or hidden.

identified as having

Emphasizes the identification aspect, rather than the simple finding.

ascertained to hold

Replaces "possess" with "hold", giving a more formal and factual tone. "Found" is also replaced with "ascertained", making the tone even more formal.

observed to contain

Switches "possess" to "contain", suitable when referring to physical contents or components.

established to have

Emphasizes the establishment of a fact, rather than just finding it.

shown to exhibit

Shifts the focus to exhibiting certain characteristics or properties.

uncovered to own

Replaces "found" with "uncovered", suggesting that the possession was previously unknown or concealed. Replaces "possess" with "own".

recognized as bearing

Emphasizes recognition of an attribute or characteristic. Replaces "possess" with "bearing".

FAQs

What can I say instead of "found to possess"?

You can use alternatives like "discovered to have", "determined to have", or "identified as having" depending on the context.

Is "found to possess" formal or informal?

The phrase "found to possess" is generally considered neutral to formal. Simpler alternatives may be more appropriate for informal contexts.

How to use "found to possess" in a sentence?

Use "found to possess" to indicate that something has been discovered or determined to have a particular quality or attribute. For example: "The new material was found to possess high tensile strength."

What's the difference between "found to possess" and "found to have"?

"Found to possess" and "found to have" are similar, but "found to possess" is slightly more formal and often used when describing inherent qualities or attributes, whereas "found to have" is more general.