was contained within

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was contained within" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is enclosed or included inside another object or concept. Example: "The secret was contained within the ancient manuscript, waiting to be discovered."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

No such provision was contained within the EU referendum legislation.

The Guardian

"These works contained a very dilute formaldehyde solution that was contained within sealed tanks".

The Guardian - Arts

Also, whatever acting the dancers produced was contained within classical ballet steps.

The New Yorker

It was contained within an instruction to set up the incentives and earned privileges scheme last November.

The Guardian - Opinion

The car's cabin was contained within its tires, conveying a sense of security and stability if sacrificing interior volume.

The New York Times - Magazine

It came from the coffee shop down the block, and was contained within a mailbox-size waxed-cardboard tote.

The New Yorker

Under apartheid most crime was contained within the poor black townships.

The Economist

Although Portland's population increased by 50 percent between 1973 and 2008, new construction was contained within the urban growth boundary.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Fuelled by the veterans and ideas of the conflict in Afghanistan, repression of "moderate" Islamists, and by economic strains, it was contained within the Islamic world.

The Guardian

But looking back at that early piece it is remarkable how much of her future career was contained within its short span.

The Guardian - Books

"The fire was contained within an hour, and all efforts are being made to clear the remaining smoke," Ms. Green-Lorenzen said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was contained within" to emphasize the idea of something being enclosed or limited by specific boundaries, whether physical or conceptual. For instance, "The investigation was contained within the legal framework" highlights the limits placed on the investigation.

Common error

Avoid using "was contained within" when you mean "containing". "The box was contained within the room" is correct, but "The box was containing the jewels" is grammatically incorrect; use "The box contained the jewels" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was contained within" functions as a passive construction, indicating that something (the subject) is enclosed or limited by something else. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. The auxiliary verb "was" combines with the past participle "contained" to form the passive voice.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

36%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was contained within" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It functions as a passive construction to describe something enclosed or limited by specific boundaries, applicable across diverse contexts from science and news to formal business. While often neutral or formal, consider alternatives like "was included in" or "was limited to" to fit the specific context. Use "was contained within" to emphasize physical or conceptual enclosure, and be mindful not to confuse it with the active form "containing".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was included in

Emphasizes the inclusion of something as part of a larger whole, similar to being contained.

was enclosed within

Highlights the physical aspect of being surrounded or confined by something.

was limited to

Focuses on the restrictive aspect of being confined within specific boundaries.

was encompassed by

Implies a broader inclusion or coverage, suggesting that something is fully surrounded or taken in.

was situated inside

Indicates the location of something within a specific space or area.

was located within

Similar to 'situated inside', but may suggest a more formal or precise positioning.

was held within

Emphasizes the act of keeping something inside a defined space or limit.

was restricted to

Similar to 'limited to', highlighting constraints and boundaries.

was subsumed under

Suggests that something is integrated or classified under a broader category or concept.

was incorporated into

Focuses on the process of integrating something into a larger entity or system.

FAQs

How can I use "was contained within" in a sentence?

Use "was contained within" to describe something enclosed or limited by specific boundaries. For example: "The information "was contained within" the report."

What's a good alternative to using "was contained within"?

Consider using alternatives such as "was included in", "was enclosed within", or "was limited to" depending on the specific context.

Is there a difference between saying "was contained within" and "contained"?

Yes, "was contained within" is in the passive voice, emphasizing the object being enclosed, while "contained" is in the active voice, emphasizing the container. For example, "The secret "was contained within" the letter" versus "The letter contained the secret."

When is it appropriate to use "was contained within" rather than "included"?

Use "was contained within" when you want to emphasize the idea of enclosure or limitation, whereas "included" simply implies that something is part of a larger set. The secret "was contained within" the safe implies security, whereas saying that the secret was included in the documents is neutral.