lost and found

USAGE SUMMARY

"lost and found" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is often used as a noun phrase to refer to a place where lost items are kept and can be retrieved. Example: "I left my phone in the lost and found at the train station. Luckily, it was still there when I went to retrieve it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

Not losT, like lost and found.

Huffington Post

Introduction: Intelligence: lost and found.

Cornell University

How were the stories lost (and found)?

The New Yorker

Also: dogs and backpacks lost and found.

The New York Times

That was selling lost and found ads.

The New York Times

The reader is lost and found and lost and found again.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

But the lost-and found department's crowded as ever.

The New Yorker

Something in the lost-and-found.

The New Yorker

A Bollywood lost-and-found movie with impeccable literary credentials.

The Guardian

His decorating with Harlem's lost-and-found objects makes sense.

The New York Times

There is a lost-and-found at Reception.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a specific department or office, capitalize "Lost and Found". For example, "Check with the Lost and Found at the airport."

Common error

Avoid using "lost and found" when you simply mean something is missing. "Lost and found" implies a system or place where recovered items are kept, not just that an item is currently misplaced.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lost and found" primarily functions as a noun, denoting a specific department, service, or location. As Ludwig AI confirms, it describes where items are kept for owners to reclaim. It can also act as an adjective, modifying nouns like 'department'.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Academia

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Science

10%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "lost and found" is a common and grammatically correct noun phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, generally used to denote a place or department where misplaced items are kept for retrieval. It appears frequently in diverse contexts ranging from News & Media to Academia. While the phrase is versatile, it's important to use it accurately, implying a system for recovered items rather than simply indicating something is missing. As detailed, alternatives like "lost property office" may be more suitable in formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

missing and found

A variation that reorders the words for a slight shift in emphasis.

lost property office

Focuses specifically on the location rather than the process.

lost articles

A formal term for items that are lost.

retrieval service

Highlights the act of getting something back, suitable for customer service contexts.

reclaimed items

Focuses on the act of claiming something that was lost.

recovered items

Emphasizes the objects that have been found after being lost.

rediscovered objects

Highlights the idea of finding something again, especially after a long time.

returned goods

Suitable for retail contexts, emphasizing items that customers have brought back.

found items repository

Describes a storage place where found items are kept.

items for recovery

Focuses on the potential for retrieval.

FAQs

How can I use "lost and found" in a sentence?

You can use "lost and found" as a noun to refer to a place where lost items are kept, like "I checked the lost and found for my keys" or as an adjective describing a department, like "The lost and found department is located near the entrance".

What's a more formal way to say "lost and found"?

A more formal alternative to "lost and found" is "lost property office", especially in official contexts like airports or government buildings.

Is it correct to say "lost and finds"?

No, the correct plural form is still "lost and found". The phrase functions as a collective noun, so it doesn't change in plural contexts, similar to phrases like "attorney general".

What's the difference between "lost and found" and "lost property"?

"Lost and found" typically refers to the department or location where items are kept, while "lost property" refers to the items themselves. You'd go to the "lost and found" to look for your "lost property".