it was detained

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was detained" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to someone or something that has been held or kept in custody, often by law enforcement or authorities. Example: "The suspect was apprehended and it was detained for further questioning."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Maersk said its ship was in an international shipping lane when it was detained, but Tehran insisted it had been in Iranian waters.

BBC

It was detained last Saturday and has been in the port of Tuticorin in the state of Tamil Nadu.

The New York Times

It was detained on 12 October and has been in Tuticorin port, also known as Thoothukudi, in Tamil Nadu state.

The Guardian

It was observed that sole plasmid DNA could migrate to the positive electrode under the electric field such as lane 1 and 8 in Fig. 2. Once DNA was associated with the nanoparticles which was too large to diffuse through the agarose matrix, the mobility of DNA was hindered and it was detained in the well of the agarose gel.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Israel said today that it was detaining a British citizen that it suspects was sent by Lebanese militants to carry out an attack in Israel.

The New York Times

The border agency never let attorneys near the people it was detaining.

Huffington Post

ICE denied that it was detaining people who should be set free in a statement emailed to the Huffington Post.

Huffington Post

The simulations show that in most of the time the Ca2+ ion spends within the Debye radius of CaB, it is detained at the 2nd and 1st solvation shells.

Plosone

"The judiciary has no obligation to explain to the United States why it is detaining one of its citizens … His lawyers know.

The Guardian

The Turkish government says it is detaining only 26 reporters on a variety of accusations that include possession of arms and exposing state secrets.

The New York Times

He says Iran's judiciary "has no obligation to explain to the United States why it is detaining one of [Iran's own] citizens".

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it was detained", ensure the context clearly indicates who or what did the detaining, even if it's implied. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "it was detained" without any context about who or what agency performed the detention. For example, instead of saying "the package was detained", specify "the package was detained by customs officials".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was detained" functions as a passive construction, indicating that the subject (the 'it') underwent the action of being detained by an unmentioned or implied agent. Ludwig's examples show it being used to describe the holding of ships, people, and even DNA under certain conditions.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it was detained" is a passive construction used to describe the act of holding something or someone in custody, primarily employed in news and scientific contexts. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English, although its frequency is relatively rare. The phrase commonly appears in reports concerning legal or official actions where a subject is temporarily held, and clarity is enhanced by providing context about the detaining agent. Consider alternatives such as "it was held in custody" or "it was apprehended" for nuanced meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was held in custody

Replaces "detained" with a more general term for being held by authorities.

it was taken into custody

Similar to "held in custody" but emphasizes the act of being taken.

it was kept in detention

More explicitly states the condition of being in detention.

it was apprehended

Focuses on the act of capture or seizure.

it was seized

Emphasizes the forceful taking of something.

it was impounded

Specifically refers to the act of officially taking possession of something, like a vehicle or goods.

it was placed under arrest

Focuses specifically on the legal process of arrest.

it was confined

Suggests restriction to a specific place.

it was interned

Implies detention during wartime or under specific political circumstances.

it was in captivity

Highlights the state of being held against its will.

FAQs

What does "it was detained" mean?

The phrase "it was detained" means that something or someone was held or kept in custody, typically by an authority or law enforcement. It suggests a temporary holding, often for investigation or processing.

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

You can use alternatives like "it was held in custody", "it was apprehended", or "it was seized" depending on the specific context.

Is "it was detained" formal or informal?

"It was detained" is generally considered neutral in tone, suitable for use in news reports, formal documents, and scientific writing. The formality depends on the context of the writing.

How to use "it was detained" in a sentence?

Use "it was detained" when you want to describe something or someone being held. For example: "The ship was in an international shipping lane when "it was detained"", or "He was detained again, this time he said, he was tortured".