left in detention

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "left in detention" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone is required to stay in a designated area, often as a form of punishment or consequence for behavior, typically in a school setting. Example: "After the incident in class, the students were left in detention for an hour to reflect on their actions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

The immigration minister, Peter Dutton, announced on Sunday there were no children left in detention, but a source within his department told the Guardian the "release" was "more bureaucratic sleight of hand than emancipation".

The Guardian

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Vice

Unfortunately, all you have to do is listen to the heartbreaking recording of terrified, sobbing children left in detention shelters while the guards crack jokes to know that this is a reprehensible piece of American history and likely deserves its place on Wikipedia's list.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

There are still around 200 prisoners left in the detention camp, many of whom have been there for eight years.

The Guardian

Many of us here have been imprisoned or left in these detention centers for years on end.

Vice

Moldovan Prosecutor General Valeriu Zubco also agreed to create a special unit to monitor the situation of juveniles left in pretrial detention for long periods of time.

Unicef

The club was left in financial limbo after his detention and played its last game in 2012 before being acquired by the Aerbin Group.

The Guardian

For the same reason, the Interior Ministry declined to transfer the defendants to the Cairo courtroom to hear the verdict, leaving them in detention in their home city.

The New York Times

Leaving people in detention who are acutely suicidal: "Trying to manage them in a non-therapeutic setting like that is just inherently futile.

The Guardian

If asylum seekers aren't left in poverty, they could face indefinite detention or forcible deportation – even if they are fleeing persecution.

Independent

Left in limbo by their governments, these children face indefinite arbitrary detention and potential statelessness.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the conditions of detention, use "left in detention" to emphasize a sense of abandonment or neglect. This can add emotional weight to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "left in detention" when you mean someone voluntarily remained. The phrase implies a lack of agency or a negative consequence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "left in detention" functions as a descriptive phrase, often acting as an adjective modifying a noun. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it describes the state of being abandoned or remaining in a detention facility.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Formal & Business

34%

Science

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "left in detention" is a descriptive phrase that carries a strong connotation of abandonment and neglect. As verified by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and used to convey a sense of vulnerability and lack of support for those who are detained. While relatively rare, its use is concentrated in news and formal contexts, particularly when discussing immigration and human rights issues. Alternative phrases such as "confined in detention" or "kept in detention" can be used to emphasize the restriction of movement, but they may not fully capture the emotional weight of being "left in detention".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Kept in detention

Simple and direct, focusing on the action of keeping someone detained.

Still in detention

Indicates a continued state of detention, lacking the sense of abandonment implied by "left".

Held in confinement

Uses a synonym for detention, 'confinement', to express the same meaning.

Confined in detention

Emphasizes the act of being confined, adding a stronger sense of restriction.

Remaining in custody

Focuses on the state of being held, shifting from the act of leaving to the status of staying.

Languishing in detention

Highlights the prolonged and debilitating experience of being in detention.

Stranded in detention

Highlights the feeling of being abandoned or helpless within the detention environment.

Abandoned in detention

Emphasizes the sense of being forsaken or deserted in detention.

Marooned in detention

Uses 'marooned' to convey a sense of isolation and being stranded.

Forgotten in detention

Focuses on the idea of being overlooked or neglected while detained.

FAQs

How can I use "left in detention" in a sentence?

You can use "left in detention" to describe someone who has been abandoned or forgotten in a detention facility. For example, "The children were "left in detention" after their parents were deported".

What's the difference between "left in detention" and "held in detention"?

"Left in detention" suggests a sense of abandonment or being forgotten, while "held in detention" simply indicates the state of being detained or kept in custody.

Are there synonyms for "left in detention" that emphasize confinement?

Yes, phrases like "confined in detention" or "kept in detention" emphasize the restriction of movement within the detention setting.

What are the implications of using the phrase "left in detention"?

Using "left in detention" can evoke feelings of neglect, isolation, and injustice, highlighting the vulnerable position of those detained. It suggests that those "left in detention" may have been abandoned or forgotten.