retrieved one another

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "retrieved one another" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express the idea of mutual retrieval or recovery, but the phrasing is awkward and unclear. Example: "The two friends retrieved one another's lost items from the park."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Sequences listed in the same row retrieved one another in a BLAST search using a permissive E value cutoff of 10-5.

BMC Genomics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Finally, Welch t-tests can be retrieved, one based on signal information, three based on SLR information as outlined above.

BMC Genomics

Two phase II trials providing level 2 evidence were retrieved, one a full manuscript and another an abstract.

Core Evidence

To detect when a new article should be surfaced, the system compares the set of retrieved articles with the previously retrieved one.

Information Processing & Management

Hares retrieved one of the bullets, stuck his fingernail into the rubber, peeled it like an orange, put the metal ball into his slingshot and fired it back.

The New York Times - Magazine

"It would certainly not be the first time that a man had been retrieved," one man — Carl, in fact — thinks after Adam's father comes to collect him, "though this time felt more grave".

The New Yorker

Experimental design included 36 plastic trays placed on the sea bottom (25 28 m depth) in fish-farming and control areas and retrieved one month after placement date.

Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology

The USNS Bowditch, a U.S. Navy ship crewed by civilians that carries out oceanographic work, had already retrieved one of two of its drones, known as ocean gliders, when a Chinese Navy Dalang 3 class vessel took the second one.

Huffington Post

We next retrieved one LRR-RLK protein per subgroup from the Arabidopsis genome.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Two straws were retrieved, one for the measurement of hormone levels and one for the bioactivity assays.

Endocrine-Related Cancer

However, we retrieved one observational study showing that improved glycaemic control was associated with lower risk of heart failure.

BMJ Open

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "retrieved one another" in formal writing. Opt for clearer and more common alternatives like "found each other" or "helped each other" depending on the intended meaning.

Common error

Be careful not to misuse transitive verbs reciprocally. The verb "retrieve" typically requires a direct object specifying what is being retrieved. Using "retrieved one another" suggests a mutual action without specifying what each party retrieved from the other, creating ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "retrieved one another" functions as a verb phrase intended to describe a reciprocal action. However, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect and advises against its use, indicating a deviation from standard English grammar.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, the phrase "retrieved one another" is flagged by Ludwig AI as grammatically incorrect, despite appearing in a small number of scientific and news-related articles. It aims to express a reciprocal action of retrieval, but its non-standard usage makes it unclear. For improved clarity and grammatical correctness, it's best to opt for alternatives such as "found each other", "helped each other", or rephrase the sentence to be more precise depending on the context. Always prioritize clarity and adhere to standard English grammar conventions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

found each other

This alternative focuses on mutual discovery or location, rather than retrieval.

recovered each other's

This alternative emphasizes mutual recovery of possessions or well-being.

located one another

Similar to "found each other", this suggests finding someone after a search.

rescued one another

This alternative implies a mutual act of saving each other from a dangerous situation.

helped each other

Focuses on mutual assistance or support.

supported each other

This implies providing mutual emotional, financial, or practical support.

aided one another

Similar to "helped each other", this emphasizes mutual assistance.

reciprocated actions

This is a more formal way of expressing mutual actions.

mirrored actions

Indicates that actions are reflected or copied between individuals.

responded in kind

This emphasizes a similar reaction or action in response to another.

FAQs

What does "retrieved one another" mean?

The phrase "retrieved one another" is not standard English and its meaning is unclear. It seems to suggest a mutual retrieval, but lacks specificity. Consider using alternatives like "found each other" or "rescued one another" for clearer communication.

Is it grammatically correct to say "retrieved one another"?

No, the phrase "retrieved one another" is not grammatically correct. The verb "retrieve" requires a direct object, and using it reciprocally in this way is uncommon and grammatically awkward. Use clearer alternatives like "helped each other" or rephrase the sentence for better clarity.

What are some alternatives to "retrieved one another"?

Depending on the intended meaning, you can use phrases like "found each other", "recovered each other's possessions", or "supported one another". The best alternative depends on the specific context and what you want to convey.

How can I use "retrieve" correctly in a sentence?

To use "retrieve" correctly, ensure you include a direct object. For example, "I retrieved the file from the server." Avoid using "retrieve" in a reciprocal manner like "retrieved one another" as it's grammatically incorrect. Instead, clarify the action with a more appropriate verb or phrase.