it described as

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it described as" is not correct in English.
Did you mean "it is described as"? You can use the corrected phrase when you want to explain how something is characterized or defined. Example: "The painting is described as a masterpiece of modern art, showcasing vibrant colors and innovative techniques."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Pakistan said two of its soldiers were killed during what it described as "Indian unprovoked firing".

The Guardian

For its part RBS has apologised for the situation which it described as "unacceptable".

BBC

I keep hearing it described as gritty.

The New York Times

Instead she wants it described as an act of terrorism.

The Guardian

Hamas has condemned what it described as "a heinous crime".

The Guardian

It also criticised what it described as the "quite high level" of spending on business lunches.

The Guardian

On Wednesday, the Bush administration announced what it described as "remarkable progress" for the chronic homeless.

The New York Times

Nevertheless, it still irritates him to hear it described as pastoral.

The Guardian - Books

In October Israel attacked what it described as a terrorist training camp in Syria.

The New York Times

The Chamber advertised heavily in several states last year against judicial candidates it described as antibusiness.

The New York Times

The Senate also took action, setting up what it described as tough new regulations.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct form "it is described as" or "it was described as" to ensure grammatical accuracy. Avoid omitting the auxiliary verb "is" or "was".

Common error

A common mistake is to write "it described as" instead of "it is described as" or "it was described as". Always include the auxiliary verb to maintain correct grammar.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it described as" is grammatically incorrect; the auxiliary verb 'is' or 'was' is missing. This impacts sentence structure and clarity. Ludwig AI correctly identifies this issue, pointing out that the proper construction requires the inclusion of 'is' or 'was' to be grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it described as" is a grammatically flawed construction, missing the necessary auxiliary verb ('is' or 'was'). Despite its frequent appearance across diverse sources, especially in News & Media, its incorrect structure undermines its suitability for formal usage. As Ludwig AI indicates, the correct forms are "it is described as" or "it was described as". Utilizing these alternatives ensures clarity and grammatical accuracy in your writing. Always remember to include the auxiliary verb to properly convey the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it is described as

Corrects the grammatical error by including the auxiliary verb 'is'.

it's described as

Uses the contraction 'it's' for 'it is', improving grammatical correctness.

it was described as

Uses the past tense form of 'to be' to align with past events.

it has been described as

Employs the present perfect passive voice for ongoing relevance.

it can be described as

Indicates a potential or possible description.

it could be described as

Suggests a conditional or hypothetical description.

it might be described as

Implies a possibility that something may be described in a certain way.

people describe it as

Shifts the focus to the act of describing by people in general.

sources describe it as

Specifies that the description comes from various sources.

critics characterize it as

Indicates that critics are providing the description or characterization.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "it described as"?

The grammatically correct forms are "it is described as" (present tense) or "it was described as" (past tense).

When should I use "it is described as" versus "it was described as"?

"It is described as" is used for current or general descriptions, while "it was described as" is used for past descriptions or events.

What are some alternatives to "it is described as"?

Alternatives include "it is characterized as", "it is referred to as", or simply rephrasing the sentence to avoid the passive voice.

Is "it described as" grammatically correct?

No, "it described as" is grammatically incorrect. The correct forms are "it is described as" or "it was described as".