it was collected

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was collected" is correct and usable in written English.
You could use it to describe an object that was previously scattered or disorganized, but has been gathered together. Example: After the storm passed, we returned to the garden and found that all the leaves had been blown away. Fortunately, it was collected by the windstorm cleanup crew.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Each tiny body bore a tag giving its species and when and where it was collected.

The New York Times - Science

It was collected early & was self-perpetuating.

The New Yorker

Seed provides a beautiful and direct link to the place it was collected.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Mr. Lowe said more money would be sent to Japan as it was collected.

The New York Times

Called the Niya seal, it was collected in Xinjiang province, far to the west of the core of Chinese civilization.

The New York Times - Science

One specimen, a Hudsonian godwit, is marked with a tag saying it was collected on East Falkland Island in 1833.

The New York Times - Science

Rather, it was collected to create an extremely realistic version of a Los Angeles that doesn't actually exist.

The New Yorker

It was collected by a ballboy and was somehow lost before anybody realized its significance to O'Neill.

The New York Times - Sports

"We had no rain between the moment it fell and the moment it was collected," Dr. Aoudjehane said.

The New York Times - Science

"There's really nothing we can do with that data in terms of how it was collected and assessed".

The New York Times - Sports

The powder It was collected for characterization and antibacterial application.

International Nano Letters

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it was collected", ensure the antecedent of "it" is clear to avoid ambiguity. For example, "The data was collected from multiple sources" is clearer than "It was collected from multiple sources" without prior context.

Common error

Avoid overusing passive voice constructions like "it was collected" when an active voice would be more direct and engaging. For instance, instead of "The sample was collected by the researcher", consider "The researcher collected the sample".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was collected" functions as a passive voice construction. It indicates that a subject has undergone the action of being gathered or obtained. Ludwig examples show its use in scientific, news, and general contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

35%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it was collected" is a common passive voice construction used to describe the process of gathering or obtaining something. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and widely used across various domains, including science, news, and general writing. Its function is to emphasize the action of collecting rather than the actor. While versatile, it's essential to ensure the antecedent of "it" is clear and to avoid overusing passive voice when active voice would be more direct. Alternative phrases like "it was gathered" or "it was obtained" can be used depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was gathered

Replaces "collected" with "gathered", emphasizing the act of bringing things together.

it was obtained

Substitutes "collected" with "obtained", focusing on the acquisition aspect.

it was assembled

Changes "collected" to "assembled", suggesting a more structured gathering of components.

it was accumulated

Replaces "collected" with "accumulated", highlighting a gradual increase in quantity.

it was harvested

Substitutes "collected" with "harvested", implying a gathering of crops or resources.

it was compiled

Changes "collected" to "compiled", emphasizing the creation of a summary or record.

it was extracted

Replaces "collected" with "extracted", suggesting a removal or derivation from a source.

it was retrieved

Substitutes "collected" with "retrieved", focusing on recovering something previously stored or lost.

it was secured

Changes "collected" to "secured", highlighting the act of obtaining something safely or firmly.

it was taken

Replaces "collected" with "taken", a more general term for acquiring something.

FAQs

How can I use "it was collected" in a sentence?

Use "it was collected" to describe something that has been gathered or obtained. For example, "The data set includes more detailed information than the last time "it was collected" in 2006".

What can I say instead of "it was collected"?

You can use alternatives like "it was gathered", "it was obtained", or "it was assembled" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "it was collected" or "it is collected"?

"It was collected" is past tense, used for something that has already happened. "It is collected" is present tense, used for something that is currently being collected or is a regular occurrence.

What's the difference between "it was collected" and "it was compiled"?

"It was collected" generally refers to the act of gathering something together. "It was compiled" implies that the gathered items were organized or arranged into a specific format.