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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
was categorized by
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "was categorized by" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing how something was classified or grouped by a specific criterion or entity. Example: "The data was categorized by age group to better analyze the trends in consumer behavior."
✓ Grammatically correct
Science
Academia
News & Media
Alternative expressions(20)
was classified according to
was sorted by
was characterised by
was distinguished by
was summarized by
was ordered by
was designated by
was amused by
was succeeded by
was approached by
was composed by
was organised by
was aggravated by
was hosted by
was facilitated by
was coordinated by
was consisted by
was participated by
was organized by
was arranged 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
The evidence was categorized by stricture site, surgical technique, and the type of tissue used.
Science
Functional identification was categorized by the use of QIAGEN's Ingenuity® Pathway Analysis (IPA®, QIAGEN Redwood City, www.qiagen.com/ingenuity).
Science & Research
Mood state was categorized by physician diagnosis and separately by patient self-report using the Internal State Scale (ISS).
Science
"His work was categorized by great imagination and great thoroughness". Looking back over his own career, Wheeler divided it into three parts.
Academia
Bond failure was categorized by skin peeling for temperatures less than 300 °C, yet increased with higher temperatures to much higher concrete thicknesses.
Physical activity was assessed using a tri-axial accelerometer, and was categorized by intensity level (sedentary; sedentary to light; moderate to vigorous).
Science
The tornado, an offshoot of a torrential rainstorm, was categorized by the National Weather Service as F-1, the weakest on the strength scale, according to Joseph F. Williams, commissioner of the Suffolk County Office of Emergency Management.
News & Media
In a series of 531 CENDX, preoperative cardiac risk was categorized by clinical criteria.
Academia
The presence of DVT was categorized by location in the pelvis, thigh, or calf.
Academia
Self-reported NSAID use in the decade prior to diagnosis was categorized by duration and regularity of use.
Academia
The capturing status was categorized by success, foreign matter and vacancy.
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When using "was categorized by", ensure the criterion for categorization is clear and directly follows the "by". For example, "The data was categorized by age group" is more effective than "The data was categorized".
Common error
Avoid using "was categorized by" without specifying the categorization criteria. Saying "The information was categorized by experts" lacks clarity. Instead, state: "The information was categorized by experts based on relevance and accuracy."
Source & Trust
86%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "was categorized by" primarily functions as a passive voice construction, indicating how something has been classified or grouped. Ludwig AI confirms that this construction is grammatically sound and widely used. The examples show that it often introduces the criteria or method used for categorization.
Frequent in
Science
64%
Academia
21%
News & Media
7%
Less common in
Formal & Business
8%
Encyclopedias
0%
Wiki
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, the phrase "was categorized by" is a grammatically sound and very common passive voice construction used to describe how something has been classified according to specific criteria. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability in written English. It is most frequently found in scientific and academic contexts, with neutral to formal register. When using this phrase, ensure the categorization criteria are clear and specific to avoid vagueness. Alternatives like "was classified according to" and "was grouped by" can offer variety while maintaining clarity.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
was classified according to
Replaces "categorized" with "classified" and "by" with "according to", offering a slightly more formal tone.
was grouped by
Substitutes "categorized" with "grouped", emphasizing the act of forming groups.
was divided based on
Uses "divided" instead of "categorized" and "based on" instead of "by", focusing on the criteria for division.
was sorted by
Employs "sorted" to highlight the arrangement of items into categories.
was arranged according to
Similar to 'sorted', but emphasizes arrangement based on specific criteria.
was indexed under
Suggests a more formal or technical categorization, like in a database or index.
was labeled by
Focuses on the act of assigning labels to different categories.
fell under the category of
A more descriptive phrase indicating that something belongs to a specific category.
was characterised by
Shifts the focus to describing the category's characteristics.
was distinguished by
Highlights the features that set a category apart from others.
FAQs
How can I use "was categorized by" in a sentence?
Use "was categorized by" to indicate the criteria or method used for classification. For example, "The books "were categorized by" genre."
What's a formal alternative to "was categorized by"?
A more formal alternative is "was classified according to", which provides a similar meaning with a slightly elevated tone.
Is it always necessary to specify what something was categorized by?
Yes, specifying the criteria provides clarity and context. Without it, the sentence can be vague. For example, instead of saying "The items were categorized", specify "The items "were categorized by" size and weight".
Can "was categorized by" be used in both active and passive voice?
While "was categorized by" is already in the passive voice, the active voice construction would be something like "The system categorized the data by type". However, the passive construction is often preferred when the categorization method is more important than the categorizer.
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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
86%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested