they found that

USAGE SUMMARY

'they found that' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use this phrase when referring to the results of a study, investigation, or other research. For example, "They found that exercise is good for maintaining a healthy lifestyle."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They found that fast flux attacks pose the greatest threat.

EURASIP Journal on Information Security

They found that time to ejaculation was significantly less.

BioMed Research International

They found that:1.

The Economist

They found that balance Sunday.

The New York Times

They found that all three factors mattered.

The Economist

And I think they found that out.

The New York Times

They found that C.E.O.

The New York Times

They found that place.

The Guardian

They found that 79% were white.

The Guardian - Books

They found that it didn't help.

The New Yorker

They found that it does.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they found that" to introduce the results or conclusions of a study, investigation, or analysis. This phrase clearly indicates that the information being presented is based on evidence or findings.

Common error

Avoid starting multiple consecutive sentences with "they found that". Vary your sentence structure by using synonyms like "the study revealed", "researchers discovered", or rephrasing the sentence to improve readability and maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they found that" serves as an reporting clause, functioning to introduce a finding, result, or conclusion reached by a group or individual. It indicates that the information following "that" is the outcome of an investigation, study, or observation. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "they found that" is a versatile and commonly used phrase to introduce findings, results, or conclusions. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness and widespread applicability. It is especially frequent in scientific and news contexts, though suitable for various communication styles. For writing best practices, vary sentence structure to avoid overuse. For similar results, consider "they discovered that", "they determined that" or "the study revealed that".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they discovered that

Focuses more on the act of uncovering something previously unknown.

they determined that

Implies a more formal or definitive conclusion based on evidence.

they concluded that

Highlights the end result of a reasoning process.

their research showed that

Specifically refers to findings from a research study.

the study revealed that

Emphasizes the unveiling of information through a study.

it was revealed that

Similar to "they found that" but places less emphasis on the actors discovering something.

they observed that

Emphasizes a direct observation as the basis for the finding.

they noticed that

Suggests a more casual or less formal observation.

they learned that

Focuses on the acquisition of knowledge or understanding.

as a result, it became clear that

States that a result then makes something clear.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "they found that" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "they determined that", "the study revealed that", or "researchers concluded that". These alternatives provide a more academic or professional feel.

Is it always necessary to specify who "they" are when using "they found that"?

While not always grammatically required, it's best practice to specify who "they" refers to, especially in formal writing. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity. For example, "Researchers at Harvard found that..." is clearer than simply "They found that...".

What are some less formal alternatives to "they found that"?

In less formal contexts, you might use phrases like "they noticed that", "they saw that", or "it turned out that". These options are suitable for conversational or informal writing.

How does "they found that" differ from "they proved that"?

"They found that" indicates a discovery or conclusion based on evidence, while "they proved that" suggests a more definitive and rigorous demonstration of a fact or principle. "They proved that" implies a higher level of certainty and validation.