there were discovered

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "there were discovered" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that something was found or revealed, often in a passive construction. Example: "In the ancient ruins, there were discovered artifacts that shed light on the civilization's culture."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

There were discovered relationships of coating properties on the microarc oxidation parameters.

Surface and Coatings Technology

How far back they may go in time is unknown, but in the late 20th century there were discovered stone chimes from the 2nd millennium bce that imply by their tunings that the Chinese classical tone system tradition may actually be as ancient as the legends claim.

Britannica

There were discovered significant interstrain differences between the relative and absolute area of hippocampus (F1,10=17.28, p<0.002 and F1,10=12.24, p<0.005; respectively) in Wistar and OXYS control groups (Table 1).

Aging

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

In West Trenton, N.J., the local post office, closed since a letter carrier there was discovered to have anthrax spores, reopened yesterday morning.

The New York Times

The pooch was sent to the General Dog and Cat Hospital in San Bernardino for treatment, and, while there, was discovered to have mange as well as bite marks.

Huffington Post

But how many major oil companies out there are discovering oil and are open to public investors?

Forbes

There is discovered or concealed individual guilt.

The New York Times

There they were discovered by friends...

The New York Times

Todd Oldham and Anna Sui were discovered there.

The New York Times - Style

They were discovered there four days later.

The New York Times

Hundreds of excellently preserved fossils were discovered there..."...

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "there were discovered" when you want to emphasize the fact of discovery rather than the agent doing the discovering. It's particularly useful in scientific or historical contexts where the focus is on the findings themselves.

Common error

Avoid replacing "there were discovered" with an active construction if you don't want to emphasize who made the discovery. For example, instead of "Scientists discovered new planets", consider "There were discovered new planets" if the focus is on the discovery itself.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "there were discovered" functions as a passive construction, emphasizing the object or information that has been found or revealed. As Ludwig AI says, it indicates something was found or revealed, often in a passive construction.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Encyclopedias

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "there were discovered" is a grammatically sound passive construction used to emphasize a finding or revelation rather than the agent of discovery. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for formal contexts such as scientific reports, historical accounts, and news articles. While alternatives exist to express the same idea, the choice depends on the desired emphasis and tone. The frequency of the expression in news, scientific, and encyclopedic sources highlights its role in objective and authoritative communication. Remember to use this phrase when the focus is on the discovery itself, not who made it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was found that

Replaces the passive voice with a more direct statement about a finding.

it came to light that

Emphasizes the revealing aspect of the discovery.

were unearthed

Focuses on the act of uncovering something, often with historical or archaeological connotations.

were revealed

Highlights the act of making something known or visible that was previously hidden.

it was uncovered that

Similar to "came to light", but with a stronger sense of investigation.

were brought to light

Indicates that something was made public or known.

were detected

Focuses on the act of noticing or sensing something, often in a technical context.

it became apparent that

Suggests that something gradually became clear or obvious.

were identified

Highlights the act of recognizing or classifying something.

were ascertained

Suggests a process of careful investigation to establish something.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "there were discovered" to sound more active?

Consider using phrases like "scientists found", "researchers unearthed", or "investigators revealed". The choice depends on the specific context and who or what you want to emphasize as the agent of discovery.

What's the difference between "there were discovered" and "there were found"?

While both indicate something was located, "there were discovered" often implies a more significant or revealing finding. "There were found" is a more general statement of location.

Is it correct to use "there was discovered" instead of "there were discovered"?

No, use "there was discovered" only when referring to a singular noun. For plural nouns, the correct form is "there were discovered". For example, "There was discovered a new species" (singular) vs. "There were discovered new species" (plural).

In what contexts is "there were discovered" most appropriate?

This phrase is suitable in formal writing, scientific reports, historical accounts, or any context where you want to emphasize the discovery itself rather than the person or group who made the discovery. News reports and encyclopedias are good examples.