randomly checked

USAGE SUMMARY

"randomly checked" is a perfectly acceptable phrase and can be used in written English whenever you want to describe a process of inspection or investigation that is done without any set system or pattern.
For example, "The bags were randomly checked at the airport to ensure no contraband was being carried on the plane."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

42 human-written examples

Other passengers will be randomly checked.

The New York Times

Perhaps everyone should be checked, or at least randomly checked.

The New York Times

The SCVs were also randomly checked for absence of plasmid by agarose gel (data not shown).

Nature

Out of 15 loci randomly checked for polymorphism, 13 loci were polymorphic with allele number ranged from 3 to 6 and two loci were found to be monomorphic.

Biochemical Systematics and Ecology

The lawyer, Eric Neisser, is representing two drivers who were pulled over in 1994 after the police had randomly checked their license plate numbers using the computers, known as mobile data terminals.

The New York Times

Alex Cavendish, Social Anthropologist and former prison inmate, says; "In theory, a percentage of all outgoing letters are randomly checked by the censor's department in each prison (usually 10%).

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

18 human-written examples

Professor Ben Polak: Right, so when they're checking passengers, they're going to randomly check passengers.

Yale University

A serious enforcement body should randomly check the houses as often as is reasonably possible.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The law authorizes the Sanitation Department to randomly check garbage and recycling containers for used rechargeable batteries and to check that retailers like Staples and Best Buy are complying.

The New York Times

The officials said police officers and police dogs would perform random checks of carry-on luggage, and would randomly check passengers for identification and airline tickets.

The New York Times

But since these places are situated so randomly, checking beforehand on the Internet will save you from thumbing through a stack of phone books.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "randomly checked", ensure the context clearly indicates that the selection or inspection process lacks a predictable pattern or system. This adds credibility to quality control, security measures, or data validation processes.

Common error

Avoid using "randomly checked" to suggest that a process is arbitrary or without any oversight. While it implies a lack of a fixed pattern, it should still involve some form of structured monitoring to maintain validity and prevent genuine errors.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "randomly checked" primarily functions as a verb phrase, where "randomly" modifies the verb "checked". It indicates that an action (checking) is performed without a specific pattern or order. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "randomly checked" is a grammatically correct and acceptable verb phrase used to describe an inspection or verification process that lacks a predictable pattern. While not exceedingly common, Ludwig AI confirms it's suitable for various contexts, including science, news, and academia. The key is to use it when conveying that the check is performed without a specific system to ensure a fair and unbiased approach or to increase detection effectiveness. Alternatives like "checked at random" or "sporadically inspected" can offer variety, but the core meaning remains consistent: an unsystematic approach to verification.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

checked at random

This alternative replaces the adverb "randomly" with the phrase "at random", emphasizing the lack of a specific pattern.

sporadically inspected

This phrase changes "checked" to "inspected" and "randomly" to "sporadically", focusing on irregular intervals of inspection.

irregularly examined

Here, "checked" becomes "examined" and "randomly" becomes "irregularly", highlighting the non-uniformity of the examinations.

inspected without a pattern

This alternative directly describes the absence of a pattern in the inspection process.

verified haphazardly

Replacing "checked" with "verified" and "randomly" with "haphazardly", this version underscores the element of chance in the verification.

assessed unsystematically

The phrase replaces "checked" with "assessed" and "randomly" with "unsystematically", indicating a lack of formal assessment procedures.

examined by chance

This option replaces "randomly" with "by chance", emphasizing the accidental nature of the examination.

subjected to spot checks

This alternative introduces the term "spot checks", implying brief and infrequent inspections.

checked on occasion

This phrase conveys the idea of checks being performed sometimes but not often, differing from truly random checks.

occasionally verified

This alternative indicates that the verification is not regular, but doesn't necessarily imply randomness.

FAQs

How can I use "randomly checked" in a sentence?

"Randomly checked" describes a process where items are inspected without a specific order or pattern. For instance, "Authorities said the drugs were in her baggage, which was "randomly checked"."

What's the difference between "randomly checked" and "systematically checked"?

"Randomly checked" implies a lack of a predetermined order, while "systematically checked" indicates a defined, consistent method of inspection. The former aims to find unexpected issues, while the latter ensures consistent adherence to standards.

What are some alternatives to "randomly checked"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "randomly checked" include "checked at random", "sporadically inspected", or "irregularly examined".

In what contexts is "randomly checked" commonly used?

"Randomly checked" is often used in contexts involving security screenings, quality assurance, and data validation to describe an unpredictable inspection process designed to catch errors or anomalies.