red flags were raised

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "red flags were raised" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that warning signs or concerns have been identified in a situation. Example: "During the audit, several red flags were raised regarding the company's financial practices."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

"No red flags were raised," he said.

The New Yorker

But in all those cases, no red flags were raised.

The Washington Post

"No red flags were raised," reports the Boston Globe, because there were no flags to raise.

The New York Times

Through Magazu, Witt stressed repeatedly that he made the decision not to pursue the scholarship before any red flags were raised by the Rhodes Trust.

The New York Times - Sports

But senior Senate aides said no immediate red flags were raised on Capitol Hill to indicate a bruising confirmation fight when President Obama makes his choice official.

The New York Times

Facebook will be asked to be more specific regarding questions about when red flags were raised inside the company and when an internal examination was launched.

The Guardian - Tech

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

But if Kozmo is only looking for Speakeasy I.P. addresses, then no red flags are raised.

The New York Times - Tech

But the restart effort could run into trouble if red flags are raised during safety assessments carried out by Japan's nuclear watchdog.

The Washington Post

Apollo monitors and records the vast majority of calls from potential students, he said, and has what he called an "intense identity verification process" if any red flags are raised.

The New York Times

For Dr. Furman, red flags are raised by "precocious daters" who pair off before their peers, and by "uneven, inequitable relationships," in which one partner is controlling and the other dependent.

The New York Times - Health

Masterplans for the eastern and southern corridors have already been approved – but given the red flags being raised by people who reside between Delhi and Mumbai, it seems unlikely they will follow seamlessly.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "red flags were raised" to clearly indicate that warning signs or potential problems became evident in a situation. This phrase is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, providing a concise way to convey that something prompted concern or investigation.

Common error

Avoid using "red flags were raised" as a direct explanation of cause and effect. It indicates the emergence of warning signs, not the underlying cause itself. Instead of saying 'The project failed because red flags were raised', clarify what specific issues led to the project's failure.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "red flags were raised" functions as a passive construction indicating that warning signs or potential problems became evident. Ludwig examples illustrate its usage in various contexts, from financial audits to security checks, signaling concern or the need for investigation.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Reference

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "red flags were raised" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to indicate that warning signs or potential problems have emerged. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is suitable for various contexts, particularly in news, business, and general discussions. While the phrase is useful for signaling concern, it's important to avoid using it as a direct explanation of cause and effect, instead focusing on the specific issues that led to the problems. Alternative phrases like "warning signs appeared" or "concerns were identified" can be used to add variety to your writing. The phrase maintains a neutral register, making it appropriate for both formal and informal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

issues were flagged

Uses "flagged" as the action, differing slightly in emphasis.

warning signs appeared

Focuses on the appearance of signs rather than the action of raising flags.

concerns were identified

Emphasizes the identification of concerns rather than the alerting aspect.

alarms were triggered

Highlights the activation of alarms as a result of certain events.

dangers were signaled

Highlights the signaling of danger as a warning.

suspicion was aroused

Focuses on the creation of suspicion due to certain indicators.

irregularities came to light

Highlights the discovery of irregularities rather than the warning itself.

risks were highlighted

Emphasizes the highlighting of potential risks.

problems surfaced

Emphasizes the emergence of problems from a hidden state.

anomalies were detected

Stresses the detection of anomalies as indicators of potential issues.

FAQs

How can I use "red flags were raised" in a sentence?

Use "red flags were raised" to indicate that something prompted concern or investigation. For example, "During the audit, several "red flags were raised" regarding the company's financial practices."

What can I say instead of "red flags were raised"?

You can use alternatives like "warning signs appeared", "concerns were identified", or "issues were flagged" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "red flags were risen" instead of "red flags were raised"?

No, the correct phrase is ""red flags were raised"". "Risen" is the past participle of "rise", while "raised" is the past participle of "raise", which is the appropriate verb here.

What is the difference between "red flags were raised" and "red flags were identified"?

"Red flags were raised" implies that the flags became noticeable or brought to attention. "Red flags were identified" simply means that they were found, without necessarily implying they were brought to anyone's attention.