it was sorted by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was sorted by" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing the method or criteria used to organize or arrange items, data, or information. Example: "The data was sorted by date to ensure a chronological order for the report."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

He also requires that it be sorted by haplotype.

The Economist

It's sorted by a crowdsourced social result system.

TechCrunch

"I would hope that it is sorted by the end of this week".

BBC

SCVNGR's structure presents a lot of opportunity and challenges, while it creates a robust gaming model on top of Foursquare-esque functionality, the user-generated content could overwhelm a location with challenges (currently it's sorted by popularity, putting new challenges at a disadvantage) and SCVNGR is still trying to figure out how to leverage its bare bones point system.

TechCrunch

In other words, it's sorted by their influence level.

Huffington Post

It was sorted out and by the end I knew everything there was to know about the magic in this world – and I loved it!

The Guardian

Outward mail was sorted by military unit.

BBC

The list is typically sorted alphabetically, though it may be sorted by application size.

WikiHow

"I think it will be sorted by Tuesday or Wednesday".

Independent

Sort them by color: This should only be attempted after it has been sorted by part.

WikiHow

This should only be attempted after it has been sorted by part.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it was sorted by", ensure the subject being sorted is clearly defined and the criteria for sorting are explicitly stated to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "it was sorted by" without specifying what it was sorted by. Always include the criteria or method used for sorting to provide context and clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was sorted by" functions as a passive construction indicating the method or criteria used for arranging or organizing something. It emphasizes the object being sorted rather than the agent performing the sorting.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it was sorted by" is a grammatically sound passive construction used to describe the method or criteria by which items are arranged or organized. Although Ludwig reports its usage is correct, due to the lack of exact matches in the provided search data, its frequency is currently missing. To ensure clarity, it's crucial to specify the criteria used for sorting. Related phrases include "it was categorized by" and "it was arranged by", offering alternative ways to express similar ideas. When using "it was sorted by", make sure the context is clear, and always specify the sorting criteria.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was categorized by

Focuses on classification into categories, rather than general sorting.

it was arranged by

Emphasizes the act of putting things in a specific order or position.

it was classified according to

Highlights the criteria used for classification.

it was organized by

Suggests a more structured and planned approach to arrangement.

it was grouped by

Focuses on forming groups based on shared characteristics.

it was ordered by

Highlights a specific sequence or rank.

the system used to sort it was

This alternative changes the sentence structure to emphasize the sorting system.

it was filtered by

Implies a process of selection based on certain criteria.

the criteria for sorting it were

Shifts focus to the guidelines used for the sorting process.

it was indexed by

Suggests a structured listing for easy retrieval.

FAQs

How can I use "it was sorted by" in a sentence?

Use "it was sorted by" to describe the method or criteria used to organize something. For example, "The data was sorted by date to ensure a chronological order".

What are some alternatives to "it was sorted by"?

You can use alternatives like "it was categorized by", "it was arranged by", or "it was organized by" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "sort by"?

Whether to use active or passive voice depends on the emphasis you want to create. "The program sorts data by date" (active) emphasizes the program, while "The data was sorted by date" (passive) emphasizes the data.

What's the difference between "it was sorted by" and "it was filtered by"?

"It was sorted by" implies arranging items in a specific order, while "it was filtered by" suggests selecting items based on certain criteria, removing those that don't meet the requirements.