has been unsolved

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been unsolved" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a problem, mystery, or issue that remains unresolved over a period of time. Example: "The case of the missing artifact has been unsolved for decades, leaving investigators puzzled."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

This stabilization problem has been unsolved for over two decades.

IFAC Proceedings Volumes

"This is an issue of respecting international law and finding a political solution to the one conflict that has been unsolved and is lying there like a sore aching point for the rest of the world".

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

In all of those cases, offenders already in custody were linked by the DNA to crimes that until then had been unsolved.

The New York Times

FBI agents made their presence known at the bail hearing, telling prosecutors that there have been unsolved fur-farm raids in the region and other farms may be targeted.

Vice

Molecular typing (i.e., phylogenetic analysis of DNA data) has shown that rabies viruses associated with insectivorous bats (L. noctivagans and P. subflavus variants in particular) are the culprits in what otherwise would have been unsolved cryptic human rabies deaths.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Apparently, this problem has been previously unsolved in the literature.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

THE case of Stephen Lawrence has been the unsolved crime of a generation.

The Economist

The fate of Sir Walter Raleigh's famed "lost colony" in the New World – and the disappearance without trace of more than 100 English settlers – has been an unsolved mystery for 400 years.

Independent

With constant pressure from supermarkets to keep the price of chicken low, and the industry working on high volumes but low margins, experts say the campylobacter problem has been left unsolved for years.

The Guardian

"Breaching cell membranes with drugs has been an unsolved problem for 30 years.

Science Magazine

Thus far, it has been an unsolved problem to exactly represent all interactions in hydrate equilibria via a closed-form analytical formula for (w(r)).

Petroleum Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been unsolved" to describe long-standing issues or problems that investigators or researchers have not yet been able to resolve. It often implies a degree of complexity or persistence.

Common error

Avoid using "has been unsolved" when simpler terms like "unresolved" or "unanswered" would suffice. "Has been unsolved" is best suited for situations where the lack of a solution is significant or has historical context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been unsolved" functions as a predicate adjective, modifying a noun or noun phrase to describe its state of being unresolved. As noted by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

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, the phrase "has been unsolved" correctly describes something that remains unresolved, often implying a persistent or complex problem. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness, although its frequency is rare, primarily appearing in News & Media and Science. Consider alternatives like "remains unresolved" for potentially greater clarity or impact, and avoid overuse in simple situations. The phrase signifies an enduring lack of resolution, emphasizing complexity and long-standing challenges.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has not been resolved

Directly states the absence of a solution.

remains unresolved

Emphasizes the continuing lack of resolution.

remains unaddressed

Highlights the lack of attention or action towards the issue.

remains a mystery

Highlights the unknown and puzzling nature of the situation.

is yet to be explained

Focuses on the lack of understanding or clarification.

is still pending

Suggests that the matter is awaiting action or decision.

has eluded resolution

Highlights that the issue has avoided being solved despite efforts.

has defied solution

Emphasizes the difficulty and persistence in resisting resolution.

is still open

Indicates that the case or issue is not closed and is still under consideration.

is an open question

Implies that there is no definitive answer yet.

FAQs

What does "has been unsolved" mean?

It means something has not been resolved or explained. It indicates a problem, question, or mystery that people haven't found an answer to yet.

What can I say instead of "has been unsolved"?

You can use alternatives like "remains unresolved", "is still pending", or "has not been resolved" depending on the context.

How do I use "has been unsolved" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a long-standing mystery, for example: "The case of the missing jewels "has been unsolved" for decades."

Is "has remained unsolved" the same as "has been unsolved"?

While similar, "has remained unsolved" emphasizes the continuous state of being unsolved over time. "Has been unsolved" simply states the current state without necessarily stressing the duration.