is contaminated by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is contaminated by" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something has been polluted or tainted by an undesirable substance or influence. Example: "The water supply is contaminated by industrial waste, making it unsafe for consumption."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Therefore, when a tumor sample is contaminated by other samples, many somatic-like mtDNA substitutions by contaminants are likely to be overlapped with known mtDNA polymorphisms.

eLife

Everything is contaminated by everything else.

The Guardian - Music

If your well is contaminated by bacteria, you can have it disinfected.

The New York Times

Winemakers estimate that up to 5percentt of all bottled wine is contaminated by TCA.

The New York Times - Food

The spaceship is contaminated by a strange red liquid that causes everyone to emote like crazy.

The New York Times

Cholera is typically spread through water or food that is contaminated by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.

The New York Times

If the data is contaminated – by error, selectivity or bias – so too will be the patterns learned by the software.

The Guardian - Opinion

But Kraus's work is contaminated by craft from the get-go, entirely _made _even if not entirely made-up.

The New Yorker

The 5,300-acre 5,300-acre property is contaminated Brookhavenclides, metals and chemicals in the soil and ground water.

The New York Times

Even when she finds time to work, she worries that what she has written is contaminated by her domestic circumstances.

The New Yorker

What I can't assess for myself is the risk that the water is contaminated by raw sewage.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "is contaminated by", be specific about the source and nature of the contamination to provide clarity and avoid ambiguity. For example, instead of saying "the water is contaminated", specify "the water is contaminated by industrial runoff."

Common error

Avoid using "is contaminated by" too broadly in metaphorical or abstract contexts where other phrases like "is influenced by" or "is affected by" might be more appropriate. Using it too often can dilute its impact and make your writing sound repetitive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is contaminated by" functions as a passive construction, indicating that a subject has been negatively affected by an external agent. This construction highlights the recipient of the action (the contaminated entity) and the agent responsible for the contamination, similar to examples in Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "is contaminated by" is a common and grammatically correct construction used to indicate that something has been tainted or polluted by an undesirable substance or influence. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is prevalent in scientific, news, and formal business contexts. While alternatives like "is polluted by" or "is tainted by" exist, the choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey. When using this phrase, specificity about the source of contamination enhances clarity. Avoid overuse in metaphorical contexts to maintain its impact. Overall, "is contaminated by" serves as an effective means to communicate the compromised state of an entity due to external pollutants or impurities.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is polluted by

Focuses on the presence of pollutants, implying environmental or physical contamination.

is tainted by

Suggests moral or ethical corruption, although it can also refer to physical contamination.

is adulterated by

Specifically refers to the corruption of something by adding inferior or harmful substances.

is infected by

Implies contamination by a disease-causing organism.

is corrupted by

Emphasizes a loss of integrity or purity due to an external influence.

is defiled by

Highlights a desecration or violation, often in a religious or symbolic context.

is sullied by

Indicates that something has been tarnished or disgraced, often affecting reputation.

is compromised by

Suggests a weakening or undermining of something's integrity or effectiveness.

is marred by

Implies that something has been disfigured or damaged, affecting its appearance or quality.

is compromised with

Implies the presence of unwanted elements that affect structural integrity or weaken resistance.

FAQs

How can I use "is contaminated by" in a sentence?

The phrase "is contaminated by" is used to indicate that something has been polluted or tainted by an undesirable substance. For instance, "The soil is contaminated by heavy metals", or "The data is contaminated by errors".

What are some alternatives to "is contaminated by"?

You can use alternatives like "is polluted by", "is tainted by", or "is adulterated by" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "is contaminated with" instead of "is contaminated by"?

While "is contaminated by" is the more common and generally preferred phrasing, "is contaminated with" can also be correct depending on the specific context. "By" often implies the source or agent of contamination, while "with" can refer to the contaminating substance itself. For example, "The water is contaminated by bacteria" versus "The water is contaminated with bacteria".

What's the difference between "is contaminated by" and "is affected by"?

"Is contaminated by" implies a negative impact due to the introduction of an unwanted element, usually a pollutant or impurity. "Is affected by" is a broader term indicating that something has been influenced, which may not necessarily be negative. For example, "The experiment is affected by temperature fluctuations" may or may not be detrimental, whereas "The food is contaminated by salmonella" is definitely negative.