this was treated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "this was treated" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing how a particular issue, condition, or subject was handled or addressed in a specific context. Example: "In the report, it was noted that this was treated with the utmost care and attention to detail."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This was treated as a maintenance problem, not a threat to shuttle safety.

The New York Times

This was treated, by conservatives, as tantamount to attempted political murder.

The New Yorker

Like other information in the case, this was treated skeptically by Mr. Babitsky's family and colleagues.

The New York Times

"In any case, this was treated as a kind of joke in 1973 but after 30 years, people took it seriously.

The Guardian - Music

"This was treated as a fun film and we were relentlessly shown that image of the bus, so the subliminal message was 'Get on the bus'," the marketing consultant said.

The Guardian

As he got older, he often deflected questions of succession by claiming that he would live forever; this was treated in the press as a rich man's charming eccentricity, rather than an abrogation of responsibility.

The New Yorker

For the 10th and 11th five-year plans, the government aimed at 7-7.5% growth, but this was treated as a floor rather than a ceiling by overzealous local officials, who see GDP as a key measurement to compete with rival regions, get promoted and secure bribes.

The Guardian

Linehan attempted to stay with the detail – the limitations (and advantages) of keeping all the action indoors; the opportunity to explore characters a bit more; the fact that (unlike Some Like It Hot, say) The Ladykillers doesn't have a surfeit of really funny lines, and he wanted to have a go at providing some – but this was treated as him going somewhat off-piste.

The Guardian

This was treated surgically.

Insights into Imaging

This was treated successfully with hardware removal and peroneal neurolysis.

Strategies in Trauma and Limb Reconstruction

This was treated with monolateral frame and bone transport.

Strategies in Trauma and Limb Reconstruction

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure the subject of "this" is clearly defined in the preceding context to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "this was treated" in casual conversation or informal writing. Simpler alternatives like "it was handled" or "they dealt with it" often sound more natural.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this was treated" primarily functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that a particular subject (represented by "this") underwent a specific action. Ludwig examples confirm its usage in describing how issues or conditions are managed or addressed.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

51%

News & Media

42%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "this was treated" is a grammatically sound and frequently used passive construction, as validated by Ludwig. It serves to describe how something was handled, often in medical or scientific contexts. While its usage is correct, it's more suited for formal writing than casual conversation. The frequency of its occurrence in reliable sources highlights its acceptance, with science and news media being the most common contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it received treatment

Changes the focus to the action of receiving treatment, rather than the act of treating.

it was subjected to treatment

Emphasizes the process or procedure that was applied.

it underwent a process

Suggests a more general handling or procedure.

it was dealt with

Offers a more general way of saying something was handled or managed.

it was managed

Focuses on the management aspect rather than the specific action taken.

it was handled

Similar to "dealt with" but can imply a more careful or specific approach.

the matter was addressed

Focuses on the addressing of an issue or problem.

action was taken on it

Highlights the fact that some action occurred, without specifying the type of action.

it was taken care of

Emphasizes resolution or completion of handling.

the problem was resolved

Focuses specifically on the resolution of a problem or issue.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "this was treated" to sound more active?

To make the sentence more active, specify who performed the action. For example, instead of "this was treated with antibiotics", say "the doctor treated this with antibiotics".

When is it appropriate to use the passive voice construction "this was treated"?

The passive voice is useful when the actor is unknown, unimportant, or when you want to emphasize the object of the action. It's common in scientific and formal writing.

Are there alternatives to "this was treated" that convey a similar meaning?

Yes, you can use alternatives like "this was handled", "this was addressed", or "it received treatment" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "this was treated" and "this was handled"?

"This was treated" often implies a specific procedure or remedy was applied, especially in medical or scientific contexts. "This was handled" is more general and suggests any kind of management or dealing with something.