has lain uncollected

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has lain uncollected" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has remained uncollected or unattended for a period of time, often referring to items like debts, mail, or other objects. Example: "The package has lain uncollected at the post office for over a week now."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Much of their wartime work has lain uncollected and unused since its original publication decades ago in Vietnamese and foreign Communist newspapers.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Since then, he has lain relatively low.

The New York Times

That way madness would have lain.

Independent

Use what you have lying around.

WikiHow

Mounds of garbage lay uncollected in the sun.

The Guardian

Inside the tangled maze of alleyways, sewage runs in the streets and rubbish lies uncollected.

The Guardian

Two weeks ago, the air was thick with dust and debris, and bodies lay uncollected in the streets.

The New York Times

Farther out, in a nearby pasture, cattle that belonged to a distant relative of Mr. Kammerer lay uncollected.

The New York Times

Garbage lies uncollected, and the streets are choked with traffic — and, since Venezuela is flush with oil money, there are brand-new cars everywhere.

The New Yorker

In one Aleppo neighborhood, corpses lay uncollected, gnawed by cats and dogs, and piles of garbage attracted clouds of black flies.

The New York Times

The escapees described the North Korea that foreigners never saw as a wasteland, its factories shuttered, its tractors and trucks running on wood-burning steam engines, its once efficient food-rationing system defunct, whole villages standing empty — mass graves here, bodies lying uncollected there, and scavenging bands of skeletal orphans roving everywhere, gnawing on bark and leaves.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has lain uncollected" when you want to create a slightly more formal or literary tone. It's particularly suitable for describing historical or long-standing situations where something has been left untouched for a significant period.

Common error

Be mindful of the irregular verb "lie" (to recline) and its forms (lay, lain, lying). "Lay" (to place) is a different verb. Using "laid" instead of "lain" would be incorrect: "The dust has lain uncollected" (correct) vs. "The dust has laid uncollected" (incorrect).

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has lain uncollected" functions as a verb phrase within a sentence, typically modifying a noun to describe its state. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is grammatically correct. Example: 'Much of their wartime work has lain uncollected and unused'.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has lain uncollected" is a grammatically sound way to describe something that has remained uncollected for some time. According to Ludwig, it's a valid expression, although relatively uncommon. It typically appears in news and media contexts and carries a slightly formal tone. When writing, remember that "lain" is the past participle of "lie" and the user should avoid confusing it with "lay". Alternatives such as "has remained uncollected" or "has gone uncollected" may be more common in everyday usage. The single exact example from Ludwig AI is from The New York Times.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has remained uncollected

Replaces "lain" with "remained", offering a more common and direct alternative.

has been left uncollected

Uses a passive voice construction, emphasizing the state of being uncollected.

has gone uncollected

Emphasizes the action of not being collected over a period of time.

has remained unclaimed

Focuses on the aspect of something not being claimed by its owner or intended recipient.

has been neglected

Broadens the meaning to include a sense of being ignored or uncared for.

has stayed unattended

Highlights the lack of attention or care given to something.

has been untouched

Emphasizes the lack of physical interaction or manipulation.

has not been gathered

Focuses on the absence of the action of gathering or collecting.

has been abandoned

Implies a more deliberate act of leaving something behind, rather than simply not collecting it.

has been disregarded

Highlights that the item has been dismissed or ignored.

FAQs

What does "has lain uncollected" mean?

The phrase "has lain uncollected" describes something that has remained uncollected or unattended for a period of time. It suggests that no one has bothered to gather or take possession of the item in question.

When is it appropriate to use "has lain uncollected"?

This phrase is appropriate when you want to emphasize that something has been left untouched for a while, often implying neglect or oversight. It's suitable for formal writing or when creating a slightly more literary tone.

What are some alternatives to "has lain uncollected"?

Alternatives include "has remained uncollected", "has gone uncollected", or "has been left uncollected". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired emphasis.

Is "has lain uncollected" grammatically correct?

Yes, the phrase "has lain uncollected" is grammatically correct. "Lain" is the past participle of the verb "lie", which means to recline or remain in a particular state. The phrase uses the present perfect tense correctly.