remained unreadable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "remained unreadable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has not been able to be read or understood, often due to poor quality or obscured text. Example: "Despite several attempts to decipher the document, it remained unreadable due to the faded ink."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

(Though messages sent prior to them joining the group would remain unreadable).

TechCrunch

While there is no accounting for taste, your vampire cowboy magnum opus will remain unread if it is generally unreadable.

TechCrunch

As Judge Thokosile Masipa said the words "five years" in prison, the athlete's face remained immobile and unreadable.

BBC

In July, we wrote about an ongoing case wherein a woman accused of fraud was being asked by the prosecution to provide the password to access her computer's data, which otherwise would remain encrypted and unreadable, weakening their case.

TechCrunch

Even then, for all their microscopic examination of the inscriptions at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, scholars remained frustrated by the many unreadable words and lines.

The New York Times - Science

GenoType® MTBDRplus strips for the remaining 14 samples were unreadable having either no bands at all or very weak/unreadable bands in rpoB, katG and/or inhA sections.

BMC Clinical Pathology

It is also, at least in Stamos' view, a trade off that's worth it for the 'greater good' of message content remaining strongly encrypted and therefore unreadable.

TechCrunch

In contrast to the magazine, and to this capacious book, cats are unreadable, and happy to remain so.

The New Yorker

Most of the pages were unreadable but the few fragments that remain give historians an astonishing new view of the interaction between the historical giants Wielder had recorded.

Huffington Post

The remaining 5 AJ markers under SSPI selection gave unreadable sequence data.

Plosone

The rest was unreadable.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "remained unreadable", ensure the context clearly indicates why the subject is unreadable, whether it's due to encryption, damage, or inherent obscurity. For example, "The ancient text remained unreadable due to extensive water damage."

Common error

Avoid using "remained unreadable" to describe something that was never readable in the first place. "Remained" implies a prior state of readability. Instead, use "was unreadable" or "is unreadable" if there was no previous state of readability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "remained unreadable" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to indicate its state of being impossible to decipher or understand. As Ludwig AI points out, this phrase describes a state that persists over time.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "remained unreadable" is a grammatically sound and neutrally-toned adjective phrase used to describe something that persisted in being impossible to decipher or understand. According to Ludwig AI, its appropriate usage indicates a state that continued over time. Although "remained unreadable" is most frequently found in "News & Media" and "Science" contexts, careful attention should be paid to ensuring the subject was previously readable before employing this phrase. Alternatives such as "stayed illegible" or "remained obscure" may be more appropriate depending on the context. By understanding these nuances, writers can effectively communicate the state of something being "unreadable".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stayed illegible

This alternative directly replaces "unreadable" with "illegible", emphasizing the inability to decipher the text due to poor quality.

continued to be unreadable

This alternative adds emphasis on the continuation of the state of being unreadable.

remained undecipherable

This alternative uses "undecipherable" to highlight the inability to decode or understand the information.

stayed incomprehensible

This alternative focuses on the lack of comprehensibility, suggesting the content was impossible to understand.

remained obscure

This alternative suggests the information was unclear or vague, making it difficult to understand.

remained unclear

Focuses on the absence of clarity, suggesting a lack of understanding.

remained cryptic

This alternative implies the information was intentionally mysterious or enigmatic.

stayed obscured

This alternative highlights that something blocked the visibility of understanding.

persisted as unreadable

This alternative uses "persisted" to emphasize the enduring nature of being unreadable.

defied interpretation

This alternative focuses on the act of interpreting and how something resisted the attempt to interpret it.

FAQs

How can I use "remained unreadable" in a sentence?

You can use "remained unreadable" to describe something that was initially readable but later became impossible to read or understand, such as "The document "remained unreadable" after the fire".

What's a good alternative to "remained unreadable"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "stayed illegible", "remained obscure", or "defied interpretation".

Is it correct to say "remained unreadable"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct to say "remained unreadable". It indicates that something was previously readable or understandable but is no longer so due to some reason.

What is the difference between "remained unreadable" and "was unreadable"?

"Remained unreadable" implies a change in state, suggesting something was once readable. "Was unreadable" simply states that something was unreadable at a specific time, without implying a previous state. For example: "The text "remained unreadable" after being encrypted", while "The ancient script was unreadable to modern scholars".