it remained unknown whether

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it remained unknown whether" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing uncertainty or ambiguity regarding a situation or outcome. Example: "Despite extensive research, it remained unknown whether the treatment would be effective."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

It remained unknown whether any cash or merchandise was stolen.

The New York Times

It remained unknown whether such laws would pass constitutional muster in a presidential election.

The Guardian

It remained unknown whether the lieutenant had gotten lost or injured, was perhaps captured later by the guerrillas, or was simply waiting for morning to make his way down the volcano, officials said.

The New York Times

It remained unknown whether the FBPA metabolites were trapped by tumors and normal tissues.

EJNMMI Research

However, it remained unknown whether SDF1α played such a role in humans.

Plosone

Differentiation-inducing factor-1 and -2 (DIF-1 and DIF-2) were originally identified as the factors (chlorinated alkylphenones) that induce Dictyostelium stalk cell differentiation, but it remained unknown whether the DIFs had any other physiologic functions.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

It remained unknown, however, whether these represented all hemoglobin-like genes within the Atlantic salmon genome.

BMC Genomics

To date, however, it has remained unknown whether and how MrD participates in pain modulation in the human brain in vivo.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

It had remained unknown whether antigen-specific human T cell responses can be elicited in immunodeficient mice transplanted with only human CD34+ HSCs.

Plosone

However, it has remained unknown whether immature neurons can be recruited into a network before synaptic and functional maturity have been achieved.

Plosone

The abnormalities of these knockout mice certainly imply a crucial commitment of Akt signals to bone metabolism, yet it has remained unknown whether or not these were due to the cell autonomous effects of the Akt deficiency on bone cells.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it remained unknown whether" to introduce a question that persisted without an answer at a certain point in time. It's effective when highlighting a gap in knowledge or understanding.

Common error

Avoid using "it remained unknown whether" in simple sentences where a direct statement of uncertainty would be more effective. For example, instead of "It remained unknown whether he would come", consider "It was uncertain if he would come".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it remained unknown whether" functions as an introductory clause to a question or statement expressing uncertainty. It sets the stage for a condition or piece of information whose truth or existence was not established at a specific point in time, as exemplified by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

54%

News & Media

42%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it remained unknown whether" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to introduce a state of uncertainty or a question that lacks a definitive answer. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is prevalent in both scientific and news contexts, indicating its suitability for formal writing. While effective in highlighting gaps in knowledge, overuse in simpler sentences should be avoided in order to achieve effective communication. Several alternatives exist, such as "it was unclear whether" or "it was uncertain whether", offering writers flexibility while maintaining clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was not known whether

Replaces "remained unknown" with "was not known", maintaining the core meaning.

it was unclear whether

Substitutes "remained unknown" with "was unclear", emphasizing a lack of clarity.

it was uncertain whether

Replaces "remained unknown" with "was uncertain", highlighting the doubtfulness.

it stayed unknown whether

Replaces "remained" with "stayed", a less formal but similar expression.

it has not been determined whether

Uses a more formal and passive construction to convey the lack of knowledge.

it had not been established whether

Emphasizes the absence of proof or confirmation.

the answer to whether remained elusive

Shifts the focus to the elusiveness of the answer.

the question of whether was still open

Highlights that the question is unresolved.

the truth about whether was yet to be revealed

Focuses on the eventual revealing of the truth, implying current lack of knowledge.

there was no information on whether

Indicates a complete absence of information on the subject.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "it remained unknown whether"?

You can use alternatives like "it was unclear whether", "it was uncertain whether", or "it was not known whether depending on the context.

How do I use "it remained unknown whether" in a sentence?

Use "it remained unknown whether" to introduce a clause expressing uncertainty about a particular situation or outcome. For example: "After the initial investigation, it remained unknown whether the fire was accidental."

Is "it remained unknown whether" formal or informal?

"It remained unknown whether" is generally considered neutral to formal in tone and suitable for academic, news, and professional contexts.

What is the difference between "it remained unknown whether" and "it is unknown whether"?

"It remained unknown whether" refers to a past state of uncertainty, while "it is unknown whether" refers to a present state. The former implies that at some point in the past, the information was not available.