showed that

USAGE SUMMARY

"showed that" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to introduce evidence or results that have been previously discussed or found, usually in research contexts. For example: "The study showed that there was a significant difference between the two groups."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

They showed that tonight.

The Guardian - Sport

"We showed that tonight".

The New York Times - Sports

Froome showed that ability on Stage 9.

The New York Times - Sports

Lucy showed that wasn't the case.

Independent

Replays showed that decision was incorrect.

Independent

"Our investigation showed that wasn't happening.

BBC

But only one site showed that trend.

Science Magazine

Uber has showed that is possible.

TechCrunch

You showed that bitch!

Vice

Three-way comparisons showed that Hfx.

Plosone

Research showed that "G.M.A".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "showed that" to introduce a finding or result that provides evidence for a previously stated hypothesis or claim. For example: "The experiment showed that increased sunlight exposure significantly improves plant growth."

Common error

Avoid using "showed that" when a simpler verb like "indicated" or "revealed" would suffice, especially in less formal writing. For example, instead of "The data showed that the population was declining", consider "The data indicated a population decline."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "showed that" functions as a reporting verb introducing a subordinate clause that presents a finding, result, or piece of evidence. As Ludwig AI explains, it is used to introduce results or findings that provide evidence for a previously stated hypothesis or claim.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "showed that" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to introduce a finding or result that provides evidence. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is suitable for formal and informal writing alike. Its primary function is to present information, typically from some form of investigation. While "showed that" is quite versatile, remember to use it judiciously and opt for simpler synonyms like "indicated that" or "revealed that" when appropriate to prevent redundancy and improve clarity. It is very frequently found in "News & Media" and in "Science" contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

demonstrated that

Replaces "showed" with a synonym emphasizing the act of proving something.

indicated that

Suggests that something pointed towards a particular conclusion, replacing "showed" with a less assertive verb.

revealed that

Implies that something was uncovered or made known, providing a similar but slightly different nuance.

proved that

Indicates conclusive evidence, making the statement stronger than "showed that".

established that

Suggests something was firmly proven and accepted as true.

confirmed that

Implies that something already suspected was verified.

evidenced that

Highlights the presence of evidence supporting a claim.

illustrated that

Uses an example or visual to demonstrate a point.

substantiated that

Emphasizes the provision of strong support or proof.

attested to the fact that

More formal way of saying something confirms or proves something.

FAQs

How can I use "showed that" in a sentence?

Use "showed that" to introduce a result or finding, as in: "The analysis showed that there was a correlation between exercise and improved mental health."

What are some alternatives to "showed that"?

You can use alternatives like "demonstrated that", "indicated that", or "revealed that" depending on the context.

Is it always necessary to use "that" after "showed"?

While not always grammatically required, including "that" after "showed" often improves clarity, especially in complex sentences. It is generally safe to include it.

What's the difference between "showed that" and "proved that"?

"Showed that" indicates evidence supporting a claim, while "proved that" suggests conclusive evidence. "Showed that" is generally less assertive.