unsolved

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unsolved" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a problem, mystery, or case that has not yet been resolved or figured out. Example: "The detective was determined to crack the unsolved case that had baffled the police for years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The HET is a police unit, established in 2005, tasked with investigating thousands of deaths during the Troubles that remained unsolved.

The Guardian

The extra cash will also be used to fund a new institution to investigate the legacy of the Troubles, the treatment of victims from the conflict and the thousands of unsolved crimes from 1969 onwards.

The Guardian

McTavish said, to date, no link had been established between Lace and any other unsolved serious crime.

The Guardian

"Any reaction or protest needs to be both peaceful and lawful, as called for by unionist leaders in their statement today [Thursday]." The exit of the Democratic Unionist party and Ulster Unionist party on Thursday has more than likely doomed the talks process aimed at clearing up residual issues that remain unsolved in the power-sharing and peace settlement in Northern Ireland.

The Guardian

The parties will resume talks on Tuesday aimed at solving problems including a banned Orange Order march in north Belfast to the creation of a system to deal with the Troubles, especially the unsolved crimes from the conflict.

The Guardian

But the problem that PFI was meant to solve – the vast under-investment in basic public infrastructure – remains unsolved in Wales, largely because of Welsh Labour's too-late-in-the-day conversion to the case for borrowing powers.

The Guardian - Opinion

Aksyonov has denied that local militias had anything to do with Ametov's murder, which remains unsolved.

The Guardian

The deal announced on Tuesday has resolved destabilising wrangles over the administration's budget and its non-implementation of welfare reforms while establishing new structures to deal with the legacy of unsolved killings during the Troubles.

The Guardian

Arguably the most contentious area is the legacy of the Troubles and how police, politicians and victims' groups deal with the deaths of almost 4,000 people in the conflict, most of which are still classified as unsolved crimes.

The Guardian

The Northern Ireland assembly will meet on Friday to debate the controversy over "get out of jail" letters to IRA fugitives, as loyalist paramilitaries call for the scrapping of a police unit investigating unsolved crimes of the Troubles.

The Guardian

Until then, the case of the mysterious missing clicks remains unsolved.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "unsolved" to describe a crime, consider including details about the time frame or impact of the crime to provide context.

Common error

Avoid using "unsolved" with prepositions like "of" or "by" when describing the state of something. Instead, use it as a direct adjective, e.g., "unsolved mystery" not "mystery of unsolved".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "unsolved" is as an adjective. It modifies nouns, typically describing problems, cases, or mysteries that have not been resolved. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is correct and well-established.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the term "unsolved" is a versatile adjective primarily utilized to describe issues, cases, or mysteries that remain unresolved. As Ludwig AI highlights, it is grammatically sound and frequently encountered in news and media contexts. While alternatives like "unresolved" and "open" exist, "unsolved" specifically points to a lack of resolution, often in investigative or legal scenarios. A key practice is to directly modify the noun with "unsolved", such as "unsolved mystery", avoiding constructions like "mystery of unsolved". Therefore, "unsolved" serves as a clear and effective way to communicate the unresolved nature of a subject.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Unresolved

Emphasizes the lack of a resolution or decision.

Yet to be resolved

Highlights that the matter has not been solved as of yet.

Unanswered

Specifically refers to questions or queries that have not been addressed.

Unexplained

Highlights the lack of a clear explanation or understanding.

Open

Highlights that the matter is still under consideration or investigation.

Inconclusive

Indicates that the results or findings are not decisive.

Pending

Focuses on the state of waiting for a conclusion.

Awaiting resolution

Formal way to say something is waiting to be solved.

Outstanding

Stresses that the matter remains to be dealt with.

Mysterious

Focuses on the puzzling nature of something.

FAQs

How to use "unsolved" in a sentence?

The word "unsolved" is used to describe something that has not been resolved or explained. For example, "The detective was determined to crack the "unsolved case" that had baffled the police for years".

What can I say instead of "unsolved"?

You can use alternatives like "unresolved", "open", or "unanswered" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "unsolved mystery" or "mystery of unsolved"?

"Unsolved mystery" is correct. The word "unsolved" should directly modify the noun it describes.

What's the difference between "unsolved" and "unresolved"?

"Unsolved" typically refers to problems or cases that have not been solved, particularly in legal or investigative contexts. "Unresolved" is broader and can apply to any issue that lacks a resolution or decision.