it described that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it described that" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used incorrectly as "describe" does not require "that" in this context. Example: "The report described the findings in detail."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

The third season, currently streaming on Netflix, is both a scathing denunciation of the privatization of the prison system and a voice of advocacy for labor unions — though you'll rarely hear it described that way.

The New Yorker

My poor Sunday school teacher would probably weep to read it described that way.

Los Angeles Times

We judged a study to be low risk of bias for blinding when it described that specimen samples were coded or otherwise blinded.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Instead it describes that function as "networking and outreach".

The New York Times

I'm not exactly sure what it is, but there's something about that quote, and what it describes, that makes me really uncomfortable.

Huffington Post

Not that it's described that way, of course.

The New York Times

"It was described that way by some of the administration's critics.

The Guardian

He did not call his book a satire, he said, but was happy for it be described that way.

The Guardian - Books

It was not described that way by the administration.

The Guardian

If it works as described, that's the ingredients for an ideal partnership.

TechCrunch

If it works as described, that shouldn't be long now.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "it described that" in formal writing. Replace it with phrases like "it stated that" or "it explained that" for better clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

Be mindful of unnecessary "that" clauses after verbs of description. Often, the sentence flows better without it. For example, instead of saying, "The report described that the project was successful", say "The report described the project as successful".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it described that" functions as a clause introducer, aiming to report or convey information about a description provided elsewhere. However, according to Ludwig, this construction is considered grammatically incorrect and often unnecessary.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

60%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it described that" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. Ludwig's analysis highlights that the construction is unnecessary and should be replaced with more appropriate alternatives such as "it stated that" or "it explained that". Although examples can be found in news and scientific contexts, the grammatical issue undermines its effectiveness. Instead of using "it described that", rephrase your sentence for clarity and grammatical correctness. Remember to avoid unnecessary "that" clauses after verbs of description to improve the flow and precision of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it stated that

Replaces "described" with "stated", providing a more direct and grammatically sound alternative. "Stated" clearly indicates the act of declaring or specifying something.

it explained that

Substitutes "described" with "explained", emphasizing the act of making something clear or understandable.

it indicated that

Uses "indicated" instead of "described", suggesting a pointing out or a showing of something, often subtly.

it mentioned that

Replaces "described" with "mentioned", implying a brief or casual reference to something.

it specified that

Uses "specified" instead of "described", highlighting the act of detailing or stating something precisely.

it detailed that

Substitutes "described" with "detailed", emphasizing the inclusion of comprehensive information.

the description included

Restructures the sentence to focus on the description itself rather than the act of describing.

the passage described

Narrows the scope to a written "passage" that is doing the describing.

the document outlined

Specifies that a "document" is outlining something, implying a structured and organized description.

as per its description

Shifts the focus to adhering to a pre-existing description, useful when referencing something already defined.

FAQs

Is "it described that" grammatically correct?

No, "it described that" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard written English. The verb 'describe' does not typically require 'that' in this context. A better phrasing would be "it stated that" or "it explained that".

What are some alternatives to "it described that"?

You can use alternatives such as "it stated that", "it explained that", or "it indicated that". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey. For example, you can also use "it specified that".

How can I avoid using "it described that" in my writing?

Instead of using "it described that", try rephrasing the sentence. For instance, you could say "It provided a description of...", or "The report detailed...". You can also write "the document outlined" something to convey the same message with more clarity.

When is it appropriate to use "describe" without "that"?

You can use "describe" directly followed by the object being described. For example, "The author described the scenery vividly". Using "that" after "describe" is usually unnecessary and can make the sentence sound awkward.