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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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unfolded

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unfolded" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has been opened or spread out from a folded state, often in a literal or metaphorical sense. Example: "As she unfolded the map, the intricate details of the city came into view."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The Myall Creek Massacre, as it came to be known, was not the first of the hundreds, perhaps thousands, of such crimes that unfolded across the colonial frontier between the first inhabitants, soldiers, settlers, vigilante groups and Indigenous "black police".

News & Media

The Guardian

When the range of that soul-charged tenor first fully unfolded with his band Antony and the Johnsons in 2005, you had the sense of it coming out of nowhere, emerging, as the title of his breakthrough Mercury prize-winning album I Am a Bird Now suggested, as if from another, more aery, species entirely.

The events that unfolded said a lot about what it means to be empathetic, to overcome dissent and face common enemies: Thatcher, the tabloids, the police.

He told Guardian Australia: "I understand and appreciate the work the AFP does, but I understand that within the AFP itself – whatever is said publicly – there is extreme unease about how this unfolded.

News & Media

The Guardian

When you look at the various stats and think about how each Test unfolded, for the scoreline to have ended so one-sided is quite amazing.

They were less good at starting from scratch, ie, a fully unfolded protein.

News & Media

The Economist

So wrote a distraught former army officer on December 16th, as a terrorist attack, awful even by Pakistan's grim standards, unfolded in Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in the north-west of the country, not far from the border with Afghanistan.

News & Media

The Economist

He had the Supreme Court in his sights, and much else.Related items George Bush's legacy: The frat boy ships outJan 15th 2009Riding the Holy SpiritAll this was unfolded as confidently as Augustine's tracts against the Pelagians, which he knew backwards.

News & Media

The Economist

That would make them easier to handle, but leave their function unchanged.If it is, indeed, a common property of proteins that they can form amyloid when unfolded, even though they do not do so in a healthy individual, Dr Dobson thinks it means that proteins have evolved to favour forms that are less likely to aggregate into these potentially fatal clusters.

News & Media

The Economist

EVEN a magical realist would struggle with the unlikely tale that unfolded this week at the Jaipur literary festival.

News & Media

The Economist

And Bangkok's youngsters, as internet-savvy as their counterparts all over the world, rushed to view the anti-royalist footage on alternative providers.To those who follow the politics of the internet, the story instantly recalled one that unfolded in Turkey a few weeks earlier.

News & Media

The Economist
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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a series of events, use "unfolded" to convey a sense of gradual revelation or development. For example: "The mystery "unfolded" as the detective pieced together the clues."

Common error

Avoid using "unfolded" to describe something that is simply open or displayed without any prior folding or concealment. Instead of saying "The map was "unfolded" on the table", opt for "The map was lying open on the table" if it wasn't previously folded.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

89%

Authority and reliability

4.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "unfolded" is as the past participle of the verb 'unfold', often used in the passive voice or as an adjective. It describes something that has been opened or revealed. As Ludwig AI explains, the phrase is considered correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Formal & Business

16%

Science

11%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "unfolded" is a versatile term primarily used as the past participle of 'unfold'. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely applicable. It serves to describe the progression or gradual revelation of events or the physical act of opening something. The phrase maintains a generally neutral register, frequently appearing in news and media contexts, with less common usage in academic or wiki environments. When using "unfolded", consider the context to ensure it accurately reflects a sense of gradual development or disclosure, avoiding its use when a more static description is appropriate.

FAQs

How can I use "unfolded" in a sentence?

"Unfolded" can describe a physical action, like "She "unfolded" the letter", or a series of events, like "The drama "unfolded" over several weeks".

What can I say instead of "unfolded"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "developed", "emerged", or "transpired".

When is it appropriate to use "unfolded" to describe events?

"Unfolded" is appropriate when describing events that reveal themselves gradually or in a sequence, emphasizing a sense of progression or discovery.

Is there a difference between "unfolded" and "revealed"?

"Unfolded" suggests a gradual process of becoming known or visible, while "revealed" implies a more direct or sudden disclosure. For example, "The truth "unfolded" slowly" versus "The truth was "revealed" in court".

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Source & Trust

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Authority and reliability

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Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: