it was contained

USAGE SUMMARY

"it was contained" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something was held or kept inside something else. For example, "The recipe was contained in the old cookbook."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Despite its scattering into three separated regions in human, it was contained into a segment of 5 Mb in chicken and 35 Mb in the lizard genome.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

He found that if you had air saturated with water vapour in a sealed container and suddenly expanded the volume in which it was contained, you could get clouds to form.

BBC

"It was contained," Kristol explained.

The New Yorker

It was contained in a rubber contraceptive in a small brown paper bag.

Cornell University

Rather, it was contained in the photograph of Kenneth Lay, the company's chairman.

The Times

In the Democrats' case it was contained; in the Republicans', it was controlling.

The New Yorker

It was contained in the preface to the Shaw-Terry letters written by Old Snoops himself.

The New Yorker

Before the invention of writing, all literature was fluent because it was contained in people's memory.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Removing tattoos began with abrasive and destructive measures to destroy the tattoo, and unfortunately, the skin it was contained in.

Clinics in Dermatology

The new virus became known as SARS, and it was contained within the year, with most cases occurring in China.

The New York Times

Neither Duggan's DNA nor fingerprints have yet been recovered from the weapon or the sock it was contained in.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it was contained", ensure the context clearly identifies what "it" refers to and what the containing element is. For instance, "The secret document was contained in a locked safe" is more informative than "It was contained."

Common error

Be precise in your writing and avoid using "it was contained" without clearly specifying what 'it' refers to. Vague references can confuse readers and weaken the impact of your message.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was contained" functions primarily as part of a passive construction, indicating that something was held, limited, or kept within specific boundaries. This aligns with Ludwig AI's assessment of its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Science

29%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was contained" is a grammatically sound and versatile expression used to convey the idea of something being held or restricted within certain limits. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, and numerous examples from diverse sources like news media, scientific publications, and academic texts attest to its widespread usage. While generally neutral in register, clarity and context are essential to avoid ambiguity. When writing, make sure you select this phrase only when you mean that something was actually being held or limited, instead of simply mentioning it. Remember to consider similar phrases as alternatives to "it was contained", so that you can pick the best expression to fit the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was enclosed

Replaces 'contained' with a focus on being surrounded or closed off.

it was confined

Emphasizes restriction or limitation within a specific area.

it was limited

Highlights the presence of a boundary or restriction.

it was held

Focuses on the act of being kept or possessed within something.

it was kept inside

Explicitly states the location as being within an interior space.

it was restrained

Implies a controlled or suppressed state within certain limits.

it was surrounded

Indicates that something was entirely enclosed or encircled.

it was surrounded by

Suggests being encircled by something else.

it was enveloped

Indicates complete coverage or engulfment.

it was encompassed

Implies being included within a larger scope or boundary.

FAQs

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

Use "it was contained" to describe something being held within specific limits or boundaries. For instance, "The spill "it was contained" within the barriers", or "The fire "it was contained" to a single room".

What are some alternatives to "it was contained"?

Consider alternatives like "it was enclosed", "it was confined", or "it was limited" to vary your phrasing while maintaining a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say "it was contained within"?

Yes, "it was contained within" is grammatically sound. The addition of "within" emphasizes the enclosure or restriction, such as, "The information "it was contained within" the report."

What's the difference between "it was contained" and "it was restrained"?

"It was contained" suggests something was held or kept within limits, whereas "it was restrained" implies active prevention of movement or expression.