it remained unexplained

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it remained unexplained" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a situation, event, or phenomenon that has not been clarified or understood. Example: "Despite extensive research, the cause of the sudden disappearance of the species remained unexplained."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

It remained unexplained why he was allowed to board a flight, and why, after managing to have the plane turned around, the authorities still had no warrant.

The New York Times

The phenomenon completely surprised the best theoretical physicists of the time, and it remained unexplained for several decades.

Wikipedia

It remained unexplained, though, how inorganic reductants could drive primordial condensation reactions in water in the absence of enzymes (see the discussion in refs. [ 30, 31]).

BMC Evolutionary Biology

The further empirical applications of the model showed that while it could explain factors that promote and inhibit collective action, how participants came to engage and support the practice and how they reflected on and evaluated it remained unexplained.

BMC Health Services Research

However, it remained unexplained how these inclusions at multiple brain regions were related to characteristic motor deficits of PD until dopaminergic deficit of nigrostriatal system was identified as a major mechanism of PD [ 85, 164], largely involved in the motor presentation of PD.

Acta Neuropathologica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

However, the function of that specific post-translational modification in necroptosis still remained unexplained: it could have been either related to the recruitment of specific factors through the phosphate recognition or related to conformational changes of the nucleosome and the chromatin in general.

Cell Death and Disease

Interestingly, the dashed line in Figure 8 corresponds to the calibration line established for a series of (non-benzylic) hydroxyl-containing compounds in which an upward deviation of the benzyl alcohol 6 a remained unexplained.[ 31] It is now rationalised because the benzyl alcohol family finally does not exactly fit to the hydroxyl series.

Chemistry - A European Journal

It should be noted that a large amount of variance remained unexplained.

BMC Nephrology

If the market slumps, it is simply not good enough for it to remain unexplained.

Forbes

But without a study, those deaths remained unexplained observations.

The New York Times

Even so, the A.A.U.W. determined that one-third of the gap remained unexplained.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it remained unexplained", ensure the subject you're referring to is clearly defined in the preceding context. This will help avoid ambiguity and maintain clarity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "it remained unexplained" when a partial explanation exists. Reserve this phrase for situations where there is genuinely no understanding or clarification of the subject at hand.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it remained unexplained" functions as a clause element, specifically a subjective complement. According to Ludwig, the phrase is usable in written English. The phrase attributes a state of being unexplained to a subject.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

62%

News & Media

35%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it remained unexplained" is a grammatically sound and usable expression to indicate a lack of understanding or resolution. Ludwig AI confirms its validity in English writing. Predominantly found in scientific and news contexts, it serves to convey uncertainty or mystery surrounding a particular subject. While it is important to use this phrase accurately, avoiding situations where a partial explanation exists, it can be readily replaced with alternatives like "it was not explained" or "the reason was unknown" to achieve a similar effect. Its formal register suggests its suitability for academic or professional settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was not explained

Replaces "remained" with "was", creating a more direct passive construction, without changing the meaning.

it was left unexplained

Emphasizes the lack of explanation by using "left" instead of "remained", indicating a passive state.

the reason was unknown

Shifts the focus to the "reason" and states it was "unknown", keeping the meaning but altering the sentence structure.

the cause was unclear

Focuses on the "cause" and describes it as "unclear", maintaining a similar meaning with a slightly different emphasis.

the mystery persisted

Uses "mystery persisted" to convey that the lack of explanation continued, adding a sense of intrigue.

no explanation was found

Highlights the unsuccessful search for an explanation, changing the emphasis while retaining the core meaning.

the answer eluded researchers

Indicates that researchers were unable to find an answer, implying a challenge in understanding.

the puzzle endured

Uses "puzzle endured" to suggest that the lack of understanding continued over time, adding a sense of complexity.

the situation defied explanation

Suggests that the situation was inherently difficult to explain, adding a sense of exceptional circumstance.

the enigma stood firm

Employs metaphorical language to indicate that the unexplained nature of something remained unchanged, adding a touch of poetic expression.

FAQs

What does "it remained unexplained" mean?

The phrase "it remained unexplained" means that something was not clarified or understood, and the reason or cause was not discovered or revealed.

What are some alternatives to saying "it remained unexplained"?

You can use alternatives like "it was not explained", "the reason was unknown", or "the cause was unclear".

How can I use "it remained unexplained" in a sentence?

You can use "it remained unexplained" in a sentence like: "Despite the investigation, the motive for the crime "remained unexplained"."

Is "it remained unexplained" formal or informal?

"It remained unexplained" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though it appears more frequently in formal writing, such as scientific reports and news articles.