in secure

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in secure" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be an attempt to convey a state of being secure, but it lacks clarity and proper usage. Example: "The data must be stored in a secure environment to prevent breaches."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Practitioners in secure homes confirm that.

Independent

We welcome the votes of no-confidence in Secure Communities.

The New York Times

But while detained in "secure" units, Henry escaped 30 times.

The Guardian - Books

His son, Cy Jacob, remains in secure psychiatric facility.

The Guardian

Mr. Golb's father and Dr. Schiffman remain in secure, tenured positions, unchanged by his actions.

The New York Times

After threatening to kill herself, she was eventually placed in secure care.

Independent

Cryptology, science concerned with data communication and storage in secure and usually secret form.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Most children in secure homes are inside for less than two 2 years.

Independent

FireHost: the leader in secure cloud hosting.

TechCrunch

The trials were conducted in secure and court settings.

Health & Justice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Therapist support is via a built-in secure messaging system and by brief telephone calls.

Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always double-check prepositional phrases for correct usage, ensuring they adhere to standard English grammar rules to avoid misinterpretations.

Common error

Avoid directly following a preposition like "in" with an adjective such as "secure". Instead, use a noun phrase like "in a secure location" or rephrase the sentence for better clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in secure" functions as a prepositional phrase, but it's grammatically flawed. According to Ludwig AI, standard English requires a noun or noun phrase after the preposition "in", not just an adjective. Examples show the phrase is often intended to describe a location or state.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

31%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "in secure" appears frequently across various sources, it is grammatically incorrect. According to Ludwig AI, the preposition "in" should be followed by a noun or noun phrase, not an adjective alone. To correct this, use alternatives such as "in a safe" or "in a protected" environment. Despite its prevalence, especially in Science and News & Media contexts, adhering to proper grammatical structure is crucial for clear and effective communication. Remember to use "in a secure location" or similar noun phrases for accurate writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in a safe

Replaces the adjective "secure" with "safe", providing a grammatically correct and similar meaning.

in a protected

Substitutes "secure" with "protected", offering a grammatically sound alternative with a comparable sense of security.

in a secured

Replaces the adjective "secure" with its past participle form "secured", but maintaining grammatical correctness

within a secure

Adds "a" to "secure", making it grammatically sound by having a noun following the adjective

under protection

Uses a noun phrase to convey the state of being safeguarded, differing structurally from the original phrase.

within safety

Employs a noun to express the concept of being in a secure or unhazardous environment.

in a fortified

Uses "fortified" instead of "secure", suggesting a strengthened or reinforced condition.

in a guarded

Replaces "secure" with "guarded", highlighting the presence of protectors.

under guard

Emphasizes the active safeguarding or surveillance aspect of security.

under surveillance

Implies observation and monitoring to ensure safety and security, shifting the focus to vigilance.

FAQs

How can I properly use the word "secure" after the preposition "in"?

Instead of saying "in secure", use "in a secure location", "in secure conditions", or "in secure systems". Adding a noun after the adjective "secure" makes the phrase grammatically correct.

What are some alternatives to "in secure" that I can use in my writing?

Consider alternatives like "in a safe" or "in a protected" environment, which are grammatically correct and convey a similar meaning.

Is "in secure" grammatically correct?

No, "in secure" is grammatically incorrect. The preposition "in" typically requires a noun or noun phrase to follow it. Using "in a secure location" is a grammatically correct alternative.

What's the difference between saying "in secure" and "in a secure" environment?

The phrase "in secure" is grammatically incorrect, while "in a secure environment" is correct. The latter includes the article "a" followed by a noun, which is necessary for proper grammar.