that went unnoticed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "that went unnoticed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that was overlooked or not observed by others. Example: "There were several important details in the report that went unnoticed by the reviewers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

47 human-written examples

They, too, will be asked to return forms with details of any other deaths that went unnoticed.

The Guardian

But that too was a ruse, a function of voter shenanigans that went unnoticed by the county for nearly 30 years.

The New York Times

"Almost every mishap at NASA can be traced to some series of small signals that went unnoticed at the critical moment," he says.

Harvard Business Review

Most accidents in hospitals result from a series of small failures that went unnoticed and unfortunately lined up in just the wrong way.

Harvard Business Review

It involved coded signals that he conveyed within full view of the Polo Grounds crowds but that went unnoticed by opposing players and the fans.

The New York Times - Sports

"That little device that went unnoticed and unchanged year after year on the walls of our homes was a lost opportunity to save energy and money.

The Guardian - Tech

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

13 human-written examples

There is something deeply troubling about a death that goes unnoticed.

Stanford University

"One of the things that goes unnoticed is how good he is at moving," Schottenheimer said.

The New York Times - Sports

These public servants are a quiet lot, meticulous, precise; just another workaday arm of the state that goes unnoticed.

The Guardian

So much work that goes unnoticed.

BBC

I'm always curious and fascinated by those little things that goes unnoticed in a household.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "that went unnoticed" to highlight oversights or failures in detection, especially when emphasizing the consequences of something not being observed. For example, "The error in the code, "that went unnoticed", led to a system failure."

Common error

Avoid using "that went unnoticed" when the subject was deliberately ignored, rather than simply not observed. The phrase implies a lack of awareness, not intentional disregard. For example, instead of saying "His cries for help, "that went unnoticed"", use "His cries for help were deliberately ignored."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that went unnoticed" functions as a relative clause, modifying a noun by describing something that was not observed or detected. As Ludwig AI confirms, the expression is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "that went unnoticed" effectively conveys that something was not observed or detected. According to Ludwig AI, the expression is grammatically correct and widely used. It functions as a relative clause and serves to highlight oversights or failures in detection across a range of contexts, from news reports to scientific studies. While suitable for both formal and informal writing, ensure it accurately reflects a lack of awareness rather than intentional disregard. Remember that several alternatives, such as "that was overlooked" or "that escaped attention", can provide subtle variations in meaning and tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that was overlooked

Replaces "went unnoticed" with a passive construction emphasizing the act of overlooking.

that was missed

A simpler alternative, implying a failure to notice or attend to something.

that escaped attention

Indicates something avoided being noticed, suggesting a subtle oversight.

that passed unobserved

Emphasizes the lack of observation, often in a more formal context.

that wasn't detected

Focuses on the failure to find or identify something.

that nobody noticed

A more direct and informal way of expressing the idea that something was not observed.

that slipped by

Suggests something subtly avoided notice, often due to quickness or stealth.

that remained unseen

Highlights the lack of visual detection, implying something was not visible.

that evaded scrutiny

Implies something avoided thorough examination or investigation.

that was disregarded

Indicates something was intentionally ignored or dismissed.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "that went unnoticed" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider alternatives such as "that escaped attention" or "that passed unobserved". These options provide a more elevated and sophisticated way to express the idea of something not being noticed.

What's a simpler way to say "that went unnoticed"?

A simpler alternative is "that was missed". This phrase is more direct and easily understood, making it suitable for informal contexts.

Is it correct to say "that went un-noticed" with a hyphen?

No, the correct form is "that went unnoticed" without a hyphen. "Unnoticed" is a single word, and adding a hyphen is grammatically incorrect in this context.

What is the difference between "that went unnoticed" and "that was ignored"?

"That went unnoticed" implies a lack of awareness or observation, while "that was ignored" suggests a deliberate decision to disregard something. The former indicates an oversight, whereas the latter indicates intentional neglect.