Used and loved by millions
Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
this was shown by
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "this was shown by" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that evidence or support for a statement or claim has been provided by a specific source or example. Example: "The effectiveness of the new policy was shown by the significant increase in employee satisfaction."
✓ Grammatically correct
Science
News & Media
Alternative expressions(20)
this was demonstrated by
this was illustrated by
this was confirmed by
this was suggested by
this was substantiated by
this was achieved by
this was ignored by
this was nominated by
this was made by
it is confirmed by
this was reinforced by
this was corroborated by
this was validated by
this was complemented by
this was supported by
evidence suggests
this was ascertained by
this was endorsed by
this was said by
this was outweighed by
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
60 human-written examples
This was shown by our failure to do anything about Indo- China or Quemoy.
News & Media
This was shown by Total Place to prevent government departments from knowing whether there is duplication in the first place.
News & Media
She said this was shown by issues such as higher rates of stop and search of black people, and "the representation of ethnic minorities within the organisation, where ethnic minorities are still stuck in the junior ranks".
News & Media
She said this was shown by issues such as higher rates of stop and search against black people, and "the representation of ethnic minorities within the organisation, where ethnic minorities are still stuck in the junior ranks".
News & Media
This was shown by the high favourable genetic correlations between differently aged fish for lipid traits.
Science
This was shown by, e.g., Ene et al. (2012) and Saarela et al. (2015a).
Science
This was shown by assessing fresh, periodontally compromised teeth that were extracted atraumatically.
Science
In the symmetric case, this was shown by Kadelburg et al. (see [[34], Example 4.1]).
This was shown by a number of studies, for instance by [20] and [6].
This was shown by the successful testing of one of these catalyzed structures in the selective hydrogenation of C4 acetylenes.
Science
This was shown by several studies that applied low b-values to ADC measurement of breast lesions [42, 52, 56].
Science
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When using "this was shown by", ensure the evidence you are presenting directly and clearly supports the statement you are making. Avoid ambiguity in your connection between claim and support.
Common error
Avoid implying causation when the evidence only demonstrates correlation. "This was shown by" should introduce direct supporting evidence, not simply related observations.
Source & Trust
85%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "this was shown by" functions as a causal connector, introducing evidence or data to support a preceding statement. It clearly indicates that what follows provides proof or demonstration of the claim made earlier, aligning with examples provided by Ludwig.
Frequent in
Science
63%
News & Media
22%
Wiki
3%
Less common in
Formal & Business
2%
Encyclopedias
0%
Reference
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, "this was shown by" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to introduce supporting evidence for a claim. Ludwig confirms its wide applicability across diverse fields. Its function as a causal connector is most prevalent in scientific and news contexts, suggesting a formal or neutral register. While perfectly valid, consider using synonyms like "this was demonstrated by" or "this was indicated by" for stylistic variation. Ensure the evidence directly supports your claim and be cautious of implying causation from mere correlation.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
this was demonstrated by
Replaces 'shown' with 'demonstrated', implying a more active display of evidence.
this was evidenced by
Substitutes 'shown' with 'evidenced', highlighting the evidence-based nature of the statement.
this was indicated by
Replaces 'shown' with 'indicated', suggesting that the evidence points towards a conclusion.
this was illustrated by
Changes 'shown' to 'illustrated', implying that the evidence serves as an example.
this was revealed by
Substitutes 'shown' with 'revealed', suggesting that the evidence uncovers or discloses something.
this was confirmed by
Changes 'shown' to 'confirmed', highlighting that the evidence validates or verifies a claim.
the evidence for this is
Restructures the sentence to emphasize the evidence itself.
proof of this is
Replaces the original phrase with a direct statement about proof.
as evidenced by this
Changes the sentence structure to start with 'as evidenced', putting emphasis on the evidence.
the following proves this
Directly states that something proves the point, rather than shows it.
FAQs
How can I use "this was shown by" in a sentence?
Use "this was shown by" to introduce evidence, data, or examples that support a previous statement. For example: "The drug's effectiveness was shown by a significant reduction in symptoms."
What are some alternatives to "this was shown by"?
You can use alternatives like "this was demonstrated by", "this was indicated by", or "this was evidenced by" depending on the context.
Is it better to use "this was shown by" or "this was demonstrated by"?
Both "this was shown by" and "this was demonstrated by" are correct. "Demonstrated" might imply a more active or explicit display of the evidence.
Can "this was shown by" be used in formal writing?
Yes, "this was shown by" is appropriate for formal writing, including academic papers and reports, as it clearly introduces supporting evidence.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
85%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested