that were discovered

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "that were discovered" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to items, facts, or findings that have been found or uncovered in the past. Example: "The artifacts that were discovered during the excavation provided valuable insights into the ancient civilization."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Six of the submillimeter sources that were discovered were not detected in X rays.

Harvard University

There were ramps that were discovered actually before the discovery of place fields [INAUDIBLE] animals.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The few glimmerings of life that were discovered tended to be monotonously similar.

The New York Times - Science

All are low, sandy atolls that were discovered in the 19th century by American whaling ships.

Britannica

Some of the arms that were discovered had been buried while others were stacked in corners.

The New York Times

This talk will review the findings from that day, discussing compelling examples that were discovered by Columbia students and faculty.

Columbia University

On the ground floor, hundreds of people passed through UCMP's exhibit highlighting fossils that were discovered during construction projects.

University of California, Berkeley

The 802.11i protocol fixes many of the loopholes that were discovered in the base 802.11 security protocol.

Wi-Fi Telephony Challenges and Solutions for Voice over WLANs

There were also five kidney dialysis machines for Mr. Marcos that were discovered in Malacanang, the presidential palace.

The New York Times

The spinosyns (A83543 group) are a group of natural products produced by Saccharopolyspora spinosa that were discovered in 1989.

Nature

While these and other bad practices that were discovered can endanger patients, there were no dramatic revelations involving avoidable deaths.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing, ensure the verb tense of "that were discovered" aligns with the context. Use the past tense for completed actions and present perfect for ongoing relevance.

Common error

Avoid mismatching verb tenses within a sentence. For example, don't use "that were discovered" in a context that requires a present tense explanation of the findings. Make sure there is agreement between the subject and verb of the clause.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that were discovered" functions as a relative clause, modifying a noun or noun phrase. It provides additional information about the noun by specifying that it was found or uncovered. Ludwig confirms its correct and usable nature in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

35%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "that were discovered" functions as a relative clause, commonly used to add specific details about items or facts uncovered in the past. Ludwig indicates its correctness and widespread applicability across diverse writing contexts. Its use is particularly frequent in news, scientific, and academic writing, highlighting its neutral formality. For alternatives, consider "that were found" or "that were unearthed" depending on the desired nuance. Ensure verb tense consistency when using this phrase to maintain grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that were found

Replaces "discovered" with "found", a more general term for locating something.

that were unearthed

Implies a more deliberate or investigatory finding, like an archaeological dig.

that were uncovered

Similar to "unearthed", suggesting that something was revealed or brought to light.

that have been discovered

Changes the tense to present perfect, emphasizing the ongoing relevance of the discovery.

that were revealed

Focuses on the act of making something known or visible.

that were identified

Emphasizes the act of recognizing or naming something.

that came to light

Indicates that something previously hidden has become public knowledge.

that were detected

Suggests the use of instruments or methods to identify something previously unnoticed.

that were located

Highlights the physical act of finding something in a specific place.

that were ascertained

Implies a more formal or investigative process to find something out.

FAQs

How can I use "that were discovered" in a sentence?

Use "that were discovered" to introduce information about items, facts, or findings that have been uncovered or found in the past. For example: "The artifacts "that were discovered" during the excavation provided valuable insights."

What is a good alternative to "that were discovered"?

Alternatives include "that were found", "that were unearthed", or "that were revealed". Choose the best option depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "that was discovered" instead of "that were discovered"?

Use "that was discovered" for singular nouns and "that were discovered" for plural nouns. For example: "The artifact that was discovered" versus "The artifacts that were discovered."

What's the difference between "that were discovered" and "that are discovered"?

"That were discovered" refers to something found in the past, while "that are discovered" refers to something currently or habitually being found. For example: "The fossils "that were discovered" last year" versus "The new species "that are discovered" each year".