left remained

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "left remained" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express something that is still present or has not been removed, but it lacks clarity and proper grammatical structure. Example: "After the meeting, only a few questions left remained unanswered."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

The mean marker excursions covered by the different muscles ranged from 0.40 cm (left orbicularis oculi) to 1.36 cm (left frontalis); symmetry between right and left remained beyond 90% for upper face muscles and beyond 80% for lower face muscles.

BioMed Research International

The deposed prime minister, Laisenia Qarase, left, remained defiant and said he would return to the capital next week.

The New York Times

Prior to his death, the military junta denied him a visa to visit Suu Kyi in Myanmar, and Suu Kyi, anticipating that she would not be allowed to reenter the country if she left, remained in Myanmar.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The Rangers, who have 11 games left, remained 4 points behind the eighth-place Islanders, who have played three fewer games, and lost an opportunity to close the gap on the final Eastern Conference playoff spot.

The New York Times - Sports

And after 3 weeks, untreated mice in a control group (left) remained bald, while those given tofacitinib or ruxolitinib (right) had hair-covered right sides.

Science Magazine

The connection to the land they left remained unbreakable.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

However, the effect on the integrity of the cartilage left remaining at the knee was previously unknown.

Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic & Related Surgery

In turn, that has left remaining investors wondering whether the sellers are prescient sentinels or just panicked lemmings.

Los Angeles Times

Using a tablespoon, scrape out any icing left remaining in the container.

WikiHow

In certain experiments, leaves were stripped from the branches, and in others, leaves remained attached.

Plosone

Late to enter, my grandfather was also late to leave, remaining enmeshed in its culture until 1958.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Rephrase sentences using clearer alternatives like "remained in place" or "stayed behind" to avoid grammatical ambiguity. Ensure that the verb "remained" is followed by an adjective or adverb that clearly describes the state or location of the subject.

Common error

Avoid using "left remained" as it is grammatically awkward. Ensure the verb "remain" is correctly conjugated to match the subject and tense of your sentence. Consider using alternative sentence structures for better clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "left remained" functions as a verb phrase where "left" modifies "remained". However, this construction is often grammatically awkward and lacks clarity according to Ludwig. It's generally used to describe something that continued to exist after something else departed.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "left remained" is identified by Ludwig as grammatically questionable. While it appears across different sources like news, science and encyclopedias, clarity and correctness are often compromised. Consider opting for alternatives such as "stayed behind", "remained in place", or "continued to exist" to ensure precision in your writing and avoid ambiguity. The infrequent usage and grammatical awkwardness suggest that rephrasing is generally the best approach.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

remained in place

Emphasizes the lack of movement, similar to the original phrase's implication.

were still present

Uses a more common and grammatically sound way to express the presence of something.

stayed behind

Emphasizes the act of not departing, offering a clearer alternative to the original phrase.

continued to stay

Focuses on the continuation aspect, replacing "left" with a more direct verb.

persisted

Highlights the enduring nature of something, focusing on its continuation despite challenges.

remained unchanged

Emphasizes the consistency or lack of modification, similar to "persisted".

continued to exist

Highlights the ongoing presence or existence of something, diverging from a physical location.

remained untouched

Focuses on the lack of alteration or interference, adding a layer of meaning to the continuation.

were left behind

Highlights what was abandoned instead of what remainded.

lasted

Highlights the duration of existence.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "left remained" to improve clarity?

Consider using phrases like "stayed behind", "remained in place", or "continued to exist" depending on the intended meaning.

What is a grammatically correct alternative to "left remained"?

A grammatically sound alternative is to use "remained" followed by an adjective or adverb that accurately describes the state or condition, such as "remained untouched" or "remained unchanged".

Is "left remained" considered proper English?

No, "left remained" is not considered proper English due to its awkward grammatical structure. It's better to opt for clearer and more precise alternatives.

In what contexts might I encounter the phrase "left remained", and should I use it?

While you might encounter "left remained" in various texts, it's generally advisable to avoid using it in your writing. Opt for clearer alternatives to ensure your message is easily understood. Contexts could include informal writing or translations where direct equivalents might not be ideal.