they were not found

USAGE SUMMARY

'they were not found' is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation or outcome where a person or thing was not located. For example: "The missing hikers were nowhere to be found; they were not found until several days later."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The latter "means they were not found to form the specific intent required for the crime," Ms. Sherlock said.

The New York Times

As for the missing computer tapes, they were not found in a thorough search of the Los Alamos landfill.

The New York Times

They were not found to have deliberately or recklessly breached the rules and the regulator did not make findings of dishonesty or lack of integrity.

The Guardian - Business

Moreover fragments of pottery, shells and stone tools were discovered there, whereas they were not found near any other door at Chankillo.

The Economist

Those populations were found to frequently engage in behaviors that put them at risk for H.I.V. infection; they were not found to have high rates of H.I.V. infection.

The New York Times

But Mr. O'Keefe said it would be prudent to look ahead at changing procedures or modifying hardware problems even if they were not found to have contributed to the Columbia's destruction and the loss of its crew.

The New York Times

Looking at these beautiful drawings, I now realized that they were not found visions, or lines of poetry: they were made of tacit compromises between agreed-on fictions and hard-sought facts.

The New Yorker

Fearful that the works could still be discovered, "an idea sprang into my mind," she told the police, that if they were not found, there would be no evidence against her son and his friends.

The New York Times

"The documents that would account for much of the $8.7 billion are likely archived at a stateside location," the United States Central Command wrote, though it did not elaborate why they were not found during the months-long audit.

The New York Times

However, they were not found in sample Dior-1.

Geochemical Transactions

Thus, they were not found to be significant markers of the disease.

EURASIP Journal on Audio, Speech, and Music Processing

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "they were not found", ensure the context clearly indicates who or what "they" refers to. Lack of clarity can confuse the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "they were not found" when the subject of "they" is unclear or has not been previously defined in the text. This can lead to confusion and misinterpretation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were not found" functions as a passive construction indicating the absence or lack of discovery of a previously mentioned subject. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

44%

News & Media

41%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "they were not found" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to indicate that a search or investigation failed to locate the subjects. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and widespread usage across diverse fields, including science, news, and general discourse. Though versatile, clarity is key; ensure the subject of "they" is unambiguous. While alternatives like "they were not located" or "they remained undiscovered" exist, "they were not found" remains a clear and common choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were not located

A more direct synonym, focusing on a lack of location.

they could not be located

Emphasizes the inability to determine someone or something's position.

they remained undiscovered

Highlights the state of something not being discovered yet.

they proved elusive

Suggests a difficulty in finding them due to their evasiveness.

they went missing

Emphasizes the disappearance or loss of something/someone.

their whereabouts were unknown

Highlights the lack of knowledge regarding their location.

they were unrecoverable

Focuses on the impossibility of retrieving or finding something after it was lost.

they turned up empty

Emphasizes that the search for something was unsuccessful.

they were absent

A simple statement of non-existence or non-presence in a specific context.

they did not surface

Highlights the failure of something to come to light or be revealed.

FAQs

What does "they were not found" mean?

The phrase "they were not found" indicates that a search or investigation failed to locate the specified subjects. It implies absence or a lack of discovery.

How can I use "they were not found" in a sentence?

You can use "they were not found" to describe the outcome of a search or investigation, such as: "Despite an extensive search, "they were not located"".

What can I say instead of "they were not found"?

You can use alternatives like "they were not located", "they remained undiscovered", or "they went missing" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "they were not found"?

Yes, "they were not found" is grammatically correct. It uses the passive voice of the verb "find" and indicates that the subjects were the recipients of the action (being found).