kept under observation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "kept under observation" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when speaking about something that has been closely watched or monitored over time. For example, "The patient was kept under observation for several days in the hospital."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Kept at a secret desert base, Bruce is kept under observation while Talbot intends to weaponize the Hulk's powers.

Wikipedia

He is being kept under observation until the weekend.

The Guardian - Music

You need controlling, you need to be shut up, you need to be kept under observation.

The Guardian - Opinion

All significant mechanical injuries must therefore be kept under observation for days or even weeks.

Encyclopedia Britannica

More than 120 people who came in contact with the three victims are being kept under observation, the authorities said.

The New York Times

The 3 cases of zygomatic complex fractures were kept under observation without the necessity of surgical intervention.

Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology, and Endodontology

For survival studies, Lgl1 cre-conditional deleted mice were kept under observation until reaching the major endpoint, which was animal neurological symptom-free survival.

Nature

A policeman hoisted me up and half-carried me to St Bart's, where I was put on a drip, given warm sugary milk and kept under observation.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The properties were kept under observation, and the financier's personal staff later led investigators to another, more secluded property north of Cannes in the village of Mouans-Sartoux.

Independent

They are kept under observation for an hour to check whether they have an adverse reaction to the injection, and are then allowed to go home.

Independent

The postman brought the police and after that a barage of papers told the dog owner that Tuesday would have to be removed and kept under observation in case of hydrophobia.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "kept under observation" when you want to emphasize a continuous and careful monitoring process. It is suitable for medical, scientific, and security contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "kept under observation" when you mean something was passively ignored; observation implies active monitoring, not neglect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "kept under observation" functions as a passive construction, indicating that the subject is receiving the action of being observed. It is commonly used to describe a state of continuous monitoring, as demonstrated by Ludwig's examples, where patients or animals are tracked for changes in their condition.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

54%

News & Media

38%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "kept under observation" is a grammatically correct and very common passive construction used to indicate that something or someone is being continuously and carefully monitored. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides numerous examples across diverse fields like science, news, and formal business. The phrase typically implies an active monitoring process for reasons like health, safety, or research. While versatile, it should not be used to describe passive neglect. Related phrases include "monitored continuously" and "under constant surveillance", each offering subtle nuances in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

monitored continuously

Focuses on the ongoing nature of the monitoring.

under constant surveillance

Emphasizes the aspect of being watched closely.

closely watched

Highlights the intensity of the observation.

under scrutiny

Suggests a more critical and detailed examination.

subject to monitoring

Formal and passive way of expressing observation.

kept a close watch on

Highlights the vigilance of the observer.

under close inspection

Focuses on the detailed aspect of the observation.

subject to review

Focuses on the process of formal examination.

being supervised

Implies a guiding or directing aspect to the observation.

under evaluation

Suggests an assessment is being made during the observation.

FAQs

How to use "kept under observation" in a sentence?

You can use "kept under observation" to describe a state of continuous monitoring. For example, "The patient was "kept under observation" after the surgery to monitor for complications".

What can I say instead of "kept under observation"?

You can use alternatives like "closely watched", "monitored continuously", or "under constant surveillance" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "kept under observation" or "held under observation"?

"Kept under observation" is more common and idiomatic, especially in medical and scientific contexts. "Held under observation" could suggest a more forceful or restrictive form of observation.

What's the difference between "kept under observation" and "kept under surveillance"?

"Kept under observation" often implies a medical or scientific context where monitoring is for health or research purposes. "Kept under surveillance", by contrast, typically refers to monitoring for security or investigative reasons.