Used and loved by millions

Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

MitStanfordHarvardAustralian Nationa UniversityNanyangOxford

it defined that

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it defined that" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used incorrectly as "define" is usually followed by a noun or a clause rather than "that" directly. Example: "The study defined the parameters of the research."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

It defined that man, and he drove it way, way too fast".

News & Media

The New York Times

Google doesn't specify how it defined that timeframe in this particular batch of numbers.

News & Media

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The company claimed that its service sees over six million "interactions" per month — it defines that term as searches, health queries or patient-doctor communication — while it said its apps have been download 4.5 million times.

News & Media

TechCrunch

Forget Project Merlin and how it's defined – that's damn impressive.

It defines that as being pointed "so that even if it were to go off it would not cause injury or damage".

News & Media

The New York Times

But on its own terms "Rififi" is just about flawless: a genre movie brought off so keenly that it defines that genre's strengths and limits.

News & Media

The New York Times

Interpretation: It defines that a requirement r i may be assigned to any release before a specific release k q.

Interpretation: It defines that a requirement r i should not be assigned in the release k q.

Interpretation: It defines that a requirement r i may be assigned to any release after a specific release k q.

In this paper, it defines that VT is named by the node number, and CT is named by the two-terminal nodes and location terminal.

Ernie Harwell, Mel Allen, Red Barber, Harry Kalas, Harry Caray, Jack Buck and Bob Prince defined that role.

News & Media

The New York Times
Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "it defined that" in formal writing. Instead, use more grammatically correct alternatives such as "it specified that" or "it determined that".

Common error

The verb 'define' typically requires a noun or a noun phrase as its direct object, not 'that' followed by a clause. Using 'define' in this way can lead to grammatically incorrect sentences.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

86%

Authority and reliability

1.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it defined that" attempts to function as a declarative statement, where "it" refers to a subject, "defined" is the verb, and "that" introduces a clause. However, according to Ludwig AI, this construction is grammatically incorrect because 'define' requires a noun or noun phrase as its direct object.

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 "it defined that" is considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. Ludwig AI indicates the verb 'define' typically requires a noun or noun phrase as its direct object. Although there are some instances in news and scientific articles, it's best to opt for more grammatically sound alternatives like "it specified that", "it determined that", or "it described that" to ensure clarity and correctness in your writing. Always consider the context and choose the phrase that accurately conveys the intended meaning.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "it defined that"?

You can use alternatives like "it specified that", "it determined that", or "it described that" depending on the context.

Is "it defined that" grammatically correct?

No, "it defined that" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. The verb 'define' typically requires a noun or noun phrase as its direct object.

How to avoid using "it defined that" in writing?

Reframe the sentence to use a direct object after 'define', or use a different verb that fits the intended meaning, such as 'specify', 'determine', or 'describe'.

What's the difference between "it defined that" and "it specified that"?

"It defined that" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. "It specified that" is a grammatically correct alternative that means it provided detailed instructions or requirements.

ChatGPT power + Grammarly precisionChatGPT power + Grammarly precision
ChatGPT + Grammarly

Editing plus AI, all in one place.

Stop switching between tools. Your AI writing partner for everything—polishing proposals, crafting emails, finding the right tone.

Source & Trust

86%

Authority and reliability

1.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: