it was completely lost

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was completely lost" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation where something has been entirely misplaced or is no longer retrievable. Example: "After searching for hours, I realized that my wallet was completely lost."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

I am just relieved that having thought it was completely lost, I now have it," he told Classic Rock Revisited.

The Guardian - Music

Indeed, if anyone was saying anything nice about our wedding, it was completely lost in the noise, drowned in the sea of hateful, spiteful messages.

TechCrunch

Still, it was completely lost on a lot of the younger attendees though.

Vice

This effect may not be sustained without an ongoing maintenance intervention, so we assumed that it was completely lost three years after the end of the intervention.

British Medical Journal

However, it is a fragmented pseudogene in Equisetales and A. spinosa and it was completely lost from Ophioglossum, Psilotum, Adiantum, and Pteridium.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Taking together all results, we can postulate a possible scenario (fig. 5): a BuT2-like copy was present in the ancestor of subgenus Sophophora, and during speciation process, it was completely lost independently in several species of melanogaster and obscura groups, although few species of melanogaster group still have remnants of this transposon.

Genome Biology and Evolution

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

This included 32M who described how "when he [consultant] started going to their whole scientific element of it, I was completely lost" (32M) and 34M who reported how, "he [consultant] speaks about things and graphs and charts and things… I just feel like he's talking to another doctor or consultant… he doesn't really speak in my terms" (34M).

BMC Pediatrics

Pretty soon, I was completely lost in it, which is what tends to happen when you open a book that comprises lots of small pieces by brilliant writers.

The Guardian - Books

"And I was completely lost".

The New York Times

In fact, I was completely lost, really.

The Guardian

Yesterday I was completely lost in what I was doing.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was completely lost" to clearly convey that something is not just misplaced but entirely irretrievable or incomprehensible. For emphasis, avoid weaker alternatives like "it was misplaced".

Common error

While acceptable, "it was completely lost" can sound informal in academic or professional writing. Opt for stronger, more precise synonyms like "it was irretrievable" or "it was rendered obsolete" for a more sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was completely lost" functions as a statement indicating that something is irretrievable, incomprehensible, or has disappeared entirely. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It often serves as a conclusive remark regarding the state of something.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

43%

Encyclopedias

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was completely lost" is a grammatically sound and usable expression to indicate something is irretrievable or incomprehensible. Ludwig AI validates this. While its usage is more common in News & Media and Science contexts, its straightforward meaning makes it versatile. When aiming for greater formality, consider using more precise alternatives like "it was irretrievable" or "it was rendered obsolete". Be mindful of the context to ensure the chosen phrasing aligns with the desired tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was entirely gone

Emphasizes the state of being fully absent or vanished.

it was irretrievably lost

Highlights the impossibility of recovering what was lost.

it disappeared completely

Highlights the thoroughness of the disappearance.

it was utterly misplaced

Stresses the complete lack of awareness regarding its current location.

it was nowhere to be found

Indicates the inability to locate something despite searching.

it was beyond recovery

Suggests that restoration or retrieval is not possible.

it was totally incomprehensible

Focuses on the lack of understanding or clarity.

it vanished without a trace

Implies a sudden and mysterious disappearance.

i couldn't make heads or tails of it

Conveys an inability to understand something, emphasizing confusion.

it was all Greek to me

Expresses a total lack of comprehension, using a common idiom.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "it was completely lost" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider alternatives such as "it was irretrievable", "it was rendered obsolete", or "it was permanently unavailable" depending on the context.

What does "it was completely lost" imply?

The phrase "it was completely lost" suggests that something is not just misplaced, but that all hope of finding or recovering it is gone. It can also mean something was entirely incomprehensible.

Is "it was completely lost" suitable for academic writing?

While grammatically correct, "it was completely lost" might sound too informal for academic writing. Consider using more precise and formal alternatives such as "it was invalidated" or "it was nullified".

What are some synonyms for "it was completely lost" in a technical context?

In a technical context, alternatives for "it was completely lost" might include "it was unrecoverable", "it was corrupted", or "it was nonexistent", depending on the specific meaning you wish to convey.