left unlocked

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "left unlocked" is correct and can be used in written English.
It expresses when something is not secured and can be used in a variety of contexts. An example sentence might be: "I cannot believe the door was left unlocked overnight."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Doors are left unlocked.

The Economist

39, bicycle left unlocked and stolen later returned.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Churches are less and less likely, however, to be left unlocked on weekdays.

The New Yorker

Steve Coleman, a Port Authority spokesman, said it was left unlocked.

The New York Times

Piled wooden canvas stretchers could be glimpsed through a window of the garage; the doors had been left unlocked.

The New York Times

Bikes and kayaks – used by the residents to get to work in central Copenhagen – are left unlocked.

The Guardian

Cars and houses are left unlocked; police are absent or invisible; no one is looking for a fight.

The Guardian - Travel

The white bicycles were left unlocked around the city, to be used by anyone in need of transport.

The Guardian

Department chairmen were his particular targets for sharply worded notes about rules, regulations, doors left unlocked, lights left on at night, and personal behavior of his colleagues.

University of California, Berkeley

In the row of modest one-story houses where the Fogels lived, on the settlement's edge, doors were often left unlocked.

The New York Times

The family apartment — Robert, the second son, has two brothers and a sister — was seven flights up, with a loggia window that was always left unlocked.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about security incidents, clarify whether something was intentionally or accidentally "left unlocked" to provide context.

Common error

Avoid using "left unlocked" when describing situations where something was never intended to be locked in the first place. This phrase implies a prior state of being secured.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "left unlocked" functions primarily as a passive verb phrase, indicating that an action (unlocking) was not performed, resulting in a specific state. Ludwig's AI confirms its correct grammatical usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Science

4%

Encyclopedias

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "left unlocked" is a commonly used and grammatically sound way to describe something that was not secured. Ludwig provides numerous examples, mainly from news and academic sources, showcasing its usage in contexts such as security breaches and accidental oversights. While typically neutral in tone, the phrase implies a prior expectation of being locked. According to Ludwig's analysis, "left unlocked" is a straightforward way to convey that something was accessible due to a failure to secure it properly.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was not locked

A straightforward alternative emphasizing the absence of a locking mechanism.

was left unlatched

Highlights the absence of a latch or fastening, implying a similar level of accessibility.

was not secured

Emphasizes the lack of security measures, a direct synonym for 'left unlocked'.

stayed unsecured

Focuses on the continuing state of being not secure, closely related to 'left unlocked'.

remained unfastened

Focuses on the state of not being secured, similar to 'left unlocked' but uses a more formal tone.

was without fastening

Descriptively indicates the absence of a securing mechanism.

was accessible

Highlights the ease of access, conveying a similar idea without explicitly mentioning the unlocking.

stayed accessible

Similar to 'was accessible', but with the addition of the meaning of permanence.

remained ajar

Suggests a slightly open state, different from completely unlocked but implies easy access.

remained open

Indicates a lack of closure, potentially implying a broader sense of accessibility than 'left unlocked'.

FAQs

How is "left unlocked" used in a sentence?

You can use "left unlocked" to describe a state where something wasn't secured, such as "The bicycle was "left unlocked", making it an easy target for theft."

What does it mean when something is "left unlocked"?

When something is "left unlocked", it means it wasn't properly secured with a key or locking mechanism. This often implies negligence or oversight.

Which is correct, "left unlocked" or "wasn't locked"?

Both phrases are generally correct, but ""left unlocked"" implies a previous state of being locked or an expectation of being locked, while "was not locked" is more neutral.

What can I say instead of "left unlocked" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "remained unsecured" or "was left unlatched depending on the precise context.