it was translated from

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was translated from" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when indicating the original language or source of a text that has been translated into another language. Example: "The novel was originally written in Spanish, and it was translated from that language into English."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

It was translated from its original Dutch version and first published in English in 1952 as The Diary of a Young Girl.

Wikipedia

The PHQ-9 was used because it is an internationally validated screening tool, although at the time of conducting this study, the PHQ-9 had not been validated for use in Sri Lanka [ 32]; therefore it was translated from English into Sinhala and back-translated prior to use.

BMC Psychiatry

It was translated from English to Swedish by bilingual personnel, using a formal forward-backward translation, and two clinicians reviewed the questions.

Cough

It was translated from Arabic by Alice Guthrie.

The Guardian - Opinion

An 1878 work entitled, "Memoirs of Hans Hendrik, the Arctic Traveller," notes it was "translated from the Eskimo language".

The New York Times

Perhaps it was "translated" from the language of what was actually said to that of whatever Jeb Bush wanted to hear.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

It is translated from the French, yet somehow the awkwardness of the language only adds to the tenderness of Stoffels's naivety and her wonder at the joys of life.

The Guardian - Books

It is translated from an alternative starting codon upstream of the wild-type mRNA.

British Journal of Cancer

This protein is called PB1-F2 because it is translated from an alternative open reading frame (ORF) in the PB1 gene.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

The treatment schedule of IT in these animals was translated from the ongoing phase I study of IT alone at The Norwegian Radium Hospital (unpublished) in which IT is given every second week and repeated four times.

British Journal of Cancer

Beauty and Sadness [by Yasunari Kawabata] is one of my favorite novels, but I read it in an edition that was translated from Japanese into French and from French to Spanish.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it was translated from", ensure that you clearly specify both the original language and the language it was translated into for clarity and context.

Common error

Avoid stating only the original language without specifying the target language, as this can leave the reader wondering what language the text is currently in. Be specific: "It was translated from Spanish into English".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was translated from" functions as a passive construction indicating the origin of a text. This passive voice highlights that the subject (the text) underwent a transformation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is considered grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

31%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it was translated from" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase for indicating the source language of a translated text. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and effectively communicates the linguistic origin of the content. Predominantly found in "News & Media" and "Science", it maintains a neutral register suitable for diverse audiences. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying both the original and target languages to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it is a translation of

This alternative emphasizes the current state of being a translation, differing slightly in focus from the original act of translation.

the original language was

This explicitly states the language before translation, providing a more direct declaration of the source.

translated originally from

Reorders the phrase to put emphasis on the original state of the text.

its source text was in

This highlights the source text and its language, using a more formal tone.

it stems from the

Implies origination from a language rather than a direct translation, suggesting a deeper connection.

the text derives from

Similar to 'stems from' but more formal, suggesting derivation of content.

it has its roots in

This indicates a linguistic origin, similar to 'stems from' but perhaps more metaphorical.

the basis for translation was

Focuses on the foundation used for the translation process, highlighting the original material.

the pre-translation version was in

A more descriptive and technical way of indicating the language before translation.

the untranslated version was

This alternative specifies that the language mentioned was the one before any translation took place.

FAQs

How do I properly use "it was translated from" in a sentence?

Ensure you include both the source and target languages. For example, "The book "it was translated from" German into English."

What's a more formal way to say "it was translated from"?

You could use phrases like "the text "derives from"" or "the original language of the text was". These options add a layer of formality suitable for academic or professional contexts.

Is it necessary to specify the translator when saying "it was translated from"?

While not always necessary, crediting the translator provides recognition for their work and can add authority to the translation, especially in scholarly or published works. You could say, "It was translated from French by [Translator's Name]".

What can I say instead of "it was translated from" to emphasize the original work?

To emphasize the original work, you might say "the source material "originated in"" or "the text's roots "are in"", followed by the original language.