this was overlooked

USAGE SUMMARY

"This was overlooked" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to a detail or action that someone missed or did not notice. For example: "The report indicated that there was a discrepancy in the financial records, but this was overlooked."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

This was overlooked by many competitors, and with some reluctance I decided to be lenient in accepting 'can' on its own as a definition.

The Guardian

This was overlooked partly because of the many inferior pieces coming out of China that flooded the market in the 1980s, tarnishing the image of Song porcelain, and partly, too, because its subtlety was not taken in by the new British generation.

The New York Times - Arts

Two of four cases of atrial fibrillation were preventable, as this was overlooked on the preoperative 12-lead electrocardiograms.

JA Clinical Reports

Succession to the throne was hereditary but there were instances when this was overlooked.

Wikipedia

Although Leopoldia was subsequently validated (i.e. became the correct name), this was overlooked, and Hippeastrum rather than Leopoldia was used for the genus of New World amaryllids.

Wikipedia

Though this was overlooked during the last General Election campaign - by last Christmas those who proclaimed themselves his closest political supporters had stabbed him in the back, front and sides.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

All this is overlooked by BP.

The Guardian - Business

But all of this is overlooked by a view that — shock, horror!

The New York Times - Sports

Too often this is overlooked in various assessments by all kinds of administrators at universities, funding bodies and other institutes.

The Guardian

This is overlooked in this graph and hence shown as a discontinuity.

ROBOMECH Journal

This is overlooked in this graph and hence shown as a discontinuity Fig. 12 Position and angular velocity of the bucket joint.

ROBOMECH Journal

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "this was overlooked" to highlight oversights or failures to consider important details or factors. It's effective in reports, analyses, and discussions where accountability is important.

Common error

Avoid overusing passive voice constructions like "this was overlooked" to the point of obscuring who is responsible for the oversight. Sometimes, specifying the actor (e.g. "the team overlooked this") provides clearer communication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this was overlooked" functions as a passive construction, indicating that something was not noticed or considered. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and usable in English, effectively highlighting an oversight.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

29%

Wiki

21%

Less common in

Formal & Business

13%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "this was overlooked" is a grammatically correct and frequently used passive construction that effectively points out an oversight or something not given enough attention. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s suitable for various contexts, although more formal alternatives may be preferable in academic or highly professional settings. Its communicative purpose is to highlight mistakes or omissions needing correction. Usage patterns show it commonly appears in news, scientific, and wiki contexts. When using this phrase, be mindful of potentially clarifying who did the overlooking to ensure clarity and accountability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

this went unnoticed

Focuses on the lack of observation rather than active overlooking.

this was missed

Implies a failure to detect something important.

this was disregarded

Highlights a deliberate choice to ignore something.

this was not taken into account

Emphasizes the absence of consideration in a decision or assessment.

this was left out

Indicates an exclusion or omission from a group or list.

this escaped attention

Suggests that something avoided being noticed.

this was unheeded

Focuses on the lack of response or action to a warning or advice.

this was neglected

Highlights a lack of care or attention to something.

this was brushed aside

Implies a dismissive attitude towards something.

this was slighted

Suggests a disrespectful or indifferent treatment.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "this was overlooked" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider alternatives like "this was disregarded", "this was not taken into account", or "this escaped attention".

What is the difference between "this was overlooked" and "this was ignored"?

"This was overlooked" implies a lack of awareness or unintentional neglect, while "this was ignored" suggests a conscious decision to disregard something.

Is it always appropriate to use "this was overlooked" in professional writing?

While generally acceptable, be mindful of the context. In situations requiring accountability, consider specifying who did the overlooking. Otherwise, "this was overlooked" is suitable for pointing out oversights.

What are some common synonyms for "this was overlooked"?

Some common synonyms include "this went unnoticed", "this was missed", and "this was neglected". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.