it was decontaminated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was decontaminated" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the process of removing contaminants from an object or area, typically in contexts related to health, safety, or environmental concerns. Example: "After the hazardous materials spill, the entire site was thoroughly cleaned, and it was decontaminated to ensure safety for the workers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

After insisting for weeks that water collected from reactor buildings at the stricken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant posed no threat to human health once it was decontaminated, a Japanese government official poured himself a glass of the liquid and drank it on live television on Monday.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The hospital said it was decontaminating its isolation unit while health officials said Duncan's body had been cremated.

HuffPost

On the Pilsen Sustainable Street, rainwater travels through the sidewalk to porous rock, where it is decontaminated by microbes.

The Guardian

It is decontaminated before being used for tasks such as watering plants.

BBC

"You just have to drop the contents of the cork in a 20-liter bucket full of water, and it's decontaminated".

Unicef

The Dayton Warehouse was decontaminated in 1950 and returned to its owners.

Wikipedia

The laboratory was decontaminated for a second time and is now closed.

The Washington Post

In another case, sediment containing oil products was decontaminated by using a biocatalyst and bacterial culture.

Ecological Engineering

The area around the FD site was decontaminated between August 2013 and October 2014.

Progress in Earth and Planetary Science

The remaining homogenate was decontaminated in 35 ml of a 0.75% hexa-decyl-pyridinium chloride solution.

Plosone

All steps were performed in a laminar flow hood that was decontaminated by ultraviolet light.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was decontaminated" when you want to emphasize that a specific object or area has undergone a process to remove contaminants, ensuring safety or purity. Be precise about the type of contamination and the method used, if relevant.

Common error

Avoid using "it was decontaminated" in casual conversations where simpler terms like "it was cleaned" or "it was sanitized" are more appropriate. This ensures your language aligns with the register of the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was decontaminated" functions as a passive construction, indicating that something received the action of decontamination. As supported by Ludwig, this construction is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it was decontaminated" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase that indicates something has undergone a decontamination process. As noted by Ludwig, its function is to convey the removal of contaminants, ensuring safety and cleanliness. This phrase is commonly found in news reports, scientific publications, and formal business documents, suggesting a neutral to formal register. While versatile, it's important to consider the context and choose simpler alternatives like "it was cleaned" or "it was sanitized" for more casual settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it underwent decontamination

Replaces the passive voice verb with a more formal noun-based construction.

it was treated for contamination

Emphasizes the process of treating the contamination.

it was rid of contaminants

Rephrases to highlight the removal of contaminants directly.

it was sanitized

Substitutes "decontaminated" with "sanitized", implying a focus on hygiene.

contaminants were removed from it

Changes the structure to focus on the contaminants being removed.

it was purified

Replaces "decontaminated" with "purified", emphasizing the removal of impurities.

it was freed from pollutants

Specifies that the contaminants were pollutants, suitable for environmental contexts.

it was rendered sterile

Implies a higher level of cleanliness, suitable for medical or scientific contexts.

it was made safe

Focuses on the result of the decontamination process: ensuring safety.

it was cleaned

Offers a more general term for removing dirt or contaminants.

FAQs

What does "it was decontaminated" mean?

The phrase "it was decontaminated" means that something has undergone a process to remove contaminants, which can include hazardous materials, pollutants, or biological agents, making it safe for use or handling.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "it was decontaminated"?

It's appropriate to use "it was decontaminated" in contexts where precision and formality are needed, such as in scientific reports, news articles about environmental cleanups, or medical procedures. In more casual settings, simpler terms like cleaned or sanitized may suffice.

What are some alternatives to "it was decontaminated"?

Alternatives include phrases like "it was sanitized", "it was purified", "it was cleaned", or "contaminants were removed from it", depending on the specific context and the type of contaminants involved.

Is "it has been decontaminated" grammatically different from "it was decontaminated"?

Yes, "it has been decontaminated" uses the present perfect tense, indicating an action completed at an unspecified time in the past that has relevance to the present. "It was decontaminated" uses the simple past tense, indicating a completed action at a specific point in the past.