remained of

USAGE SUMMARY

Sentence In its most basic form, the phrase "remained of" is not correct English.
However, the phrase "what remained of" is correct and can be used in written English. For example, "The devastating tornado destroyed most of the town, but what remained of it was quickly restored."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

What remained of it was cold.

The New Yorker

Only pulpy substance remained of the brain.

Yale University

The incidents remained of "some concern".

The Guardian

Nothing except memories remained of that time.

The New Yorker

He remained of counsel until 2000.

The New York Times

Some true believers remained, of course.

The New Yorker

I set what remained of my hopes on Laurent, what remained of my dreams of freedom.

The Guardian - Books

But little remained of Mulberry Row, where the slaves worked.

The Washington Post

But Crowley was what remained of his boroughs' political nexus.

The New Yorker

Breslau, or what remained of it, became Polish.

The Guardian - Books

What remained of his hands were bound in gauze.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase, consider if a more precise term like "residue", "remnant", or "balance" might provide greater clarity in your writing.

Common error

Don't use "remained of" as a standalone phrase. It requires a subject and often a preceding relative pronoun like "what" or "all" to function correctly within a sentence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "remained of" functions as a prepositional phrase that typically modifies a noun or pronoun. It indicates the portion or amount that is left after something has been reduced, consumed, or destroyed. As Ludwig AI indicates, this expression commonly appears as part of the construction "what remained of".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Academia

25%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "remained of" is grammatically suspect on its own, it gains correctness and common usage when incorporated into constructions like "what remained of". Ludwig AI examples highlight its frequent presence in news media, academic writing, and encyclopedias. Despite its high frequency, it's essential to use this phrase judiciously and ensure it's part of a complete grammatical structure to avoid errors. Alternatives such as "residue", "remnant", or "balance" may offer greater clarity and precision depending on the specific context. Its key function is to quantify what is left after a reduction or loss.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that which was left of

This alternative uses more explicit language to indicate the portion that survived or was not consumed.

the rest of

A simpler and more direct way to indicate what continues.

the residue of

This phrase emphasizes the leftover or remnant aspect.

the surviving part of

This highlights the aspect of survival or endurance.

the balance of

This focuses on the remaining quantity or portion.

the portion remaining from

More formally specifies a part that has not been used or taken away.

what persisted from

Highlights the concept of something continuing despite challenges.

the unconsumed section of

Emphasizes that something has not been used up or destroyed.

the fragment of

This suggests only a small piece or part is left.

the extant portion of

This is a more formal option emphasizing the continued existence of a part.

FAQs

How can I use "remained of" correctly in a sentence?

The phrase "remained of" is typically used as part of a larger construction, such as "what remained of" or "all that remained of". For example, "What "remained of" the cake was eaten the next day".

What is a more formal alternative to "what remained of"?

A more formal alternative could be "the residual portion of" or "the extant fragment of", depending on the specific context you want to convey.

Is "remained of" grammatically correct on its own?

No, "remained of" is not grammatically correct as a standalone phrase. It needs to be part of a larger structure like "what remained of" to be grammatically sound.

What can I say instead of "all that remained of"?

You could use phrases like "the entirety left of", "the surviving portion of", or "the complete residue of", depending on the nuance you want to convey. All of these are good alternatives to "all that remained of".