that were overlooked

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "that were overlooked" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to things that were not noticed or considered, often in a context where attention is being drawn to them. Example: "There were several important details in the report that were overlooked during the review process."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

I wanted to represent things that were overlooked in society.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Did the winning managers know of wonder stocks that were overlooked by their competitors?

The New York Times

Both had obvious signs of H.I.V. infection that were overlooked by local doctors.

The New York Times

"He wasn't afraid to stir people up and talk about things that were overlooked".

The New York Times

The artefacts that interested me seemed to be things that were overlooked or discarded, kitsch or embarrassing.

The Guardian - Arts

They credited Mr. Van Hollen with being particularly astute at identifying potential opportunities for Democrats that were overlooked by others.

The New York Times

Several case studies have dealt with melanomas that were overlooked because they arose from moles hidden by tattoos.

The New York Times

Several genomics-inspired strategies have been successful in unveiling new metabolites that were overlooked under standard fermentation and detection conditions.

Current Opinion in Chemical Biology

"It raises the question whether there were food safety issues in the plants that were overlooked because of the bribery".

The New York Times

He thinks there are likely more letters between George and Martha Washington that were overlooked, or forgotten, or, perhaps, hidden away, to save them from the flames.

The Washington Post

"For every dozen records that were wrongfully overlooked, there are thousands of others that were overlooked for a reason," Greaves said.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "that were overlooked", ensure that the context clearly indicates what entity or person did the overlooking. This adds clarity and strengthens the sentence's meaning.

Common error

Avoid using "that were overlooked" in vague sentences where it's unclear what specific aspect was not noticed or considered. Always provide enough context for readers to understand what you're referring to.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that were overlooked" functions as a relative clause, modifying a noun to specify which items or aspects were not noticed or considered. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

56%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "that were overlooked" is a commonly used and grammatically correct relative clause that modifies a noun, indicating elements that were not noticed or considered. According to Ludwig, it serves to highlight these previously ignored aspects, drawing attention to their significance. Its usage spans various contexts, including news, science, and academic writing, maintaining a generally neutral register. While alternatives like "that were missed" or "that were ignored" exist, choosing "that were overlooked" implies an unintentional oversight. When using this phrase, ensuring clarity about who or what did the overlooking strengthens the sentence. In conclusion, "that were overlooked" is a valuable phrase for emphasizing previously neglected details.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that were missed

Replaces "overlooked" with a more general term for not noticing something.

that were not noticed

A more literal and straightforward way of saying something wasn't observed.

that were ignored

Suggests a deliberate choice not to acknowledge something, adding a layer of intentionality.

that were disregarded

Implies that something was considered unimportant and therefore not given attention.

that escaped attention

Highlights the idea that something avoided being noticed or considered.

that were neglected

Conveys a sense of duty or care that was not fulfilled.

that were unseen

Focuses on the lack of visibility or recognition.

that were forgotten

Highlights the element of being lost to memory or consideration.

that were unheeded

Emphasizes that warnings or advice were not listened to.

that were passed over

Indicates that something was skipped or not selected.

FAQs

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

Use "that were overlooked" to describe something important that was not noticed or considered. For example: "The report highlighted key details "that were overlooked" during the initial assessment."

What are some alternatives to "that were overlooked"?

You can use alternatives such as "that were missed", "that were ignored", or "that escaped attention depending on the context.

Which is correct, "details that were overlooked" or "overlooked details"?

Both are correct, but "overlooked details" is more concise. "Details "that were overlooked"" is a relative clause that provides additional information.

What's the difference between "that were overlooked" and "that were ignored"?

"That were overlooked" implies something was not noticed unintentionally, while "that were ignored" suggests a deliberate decision to disregard something.