was contaminated with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was contaminated with" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something has been polluted or tainted by a harmful substance or element. Example: "The water supply was contaminated with harmful chemicals, posing a risk to public health."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The house was contaminated with polonium.

The Guardian

It was contaminated with a virulent strain of Streptococcus bacteria.

The Washington Post

Doyle added: "Sherone took a legal supplement that was contaminated with oxilofrine.

The Guardian - Sport

Also, she said, at one point the site was contaminated with dry cleaning fluids.

The New York Times

He said the problem arose because the scrap metal was contaminated with low-level radioactivity.

The New York Times

In February, a test revealed the heart valve was contaminated with fungus.

The New York Times

Powell claimed that he took a legal supplement, Epiphany D1, which was contaminated with oxilofrine.

The Guardian - Sport

Others didn't go high enough, and their water was contaminated with mercury.

The New Yorker

The lot, however, was contaminated with mercury, lead and petroleum hydrocarbons.

The New York Times

Tests found that the pornography was contaminated with anthrax but that the check was not.

The New York Times

And our drinking water was contaminated with a cocktail of chemicals.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using more specific verbs like "tainted", "polluted", or "infected" if they better reflect the nature of the contamination.

Common error

While "was contaminated with" is grammatically correct, overuse of passive voice can make your writing sound weak. When possible, rephrase the sentence to use active voice. For example, instead of "The food was contaminated with bacteria", try "Bacteria contaminated the food".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was contaminated with" functions as a passive construction describing a state where an object or substance has been tainted or polluted by a harmful or unwanted element. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage. This construction is frequently used to indicate a negative alteration in the condition of something.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was contaminated with" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to describe a state of pollution or tainting. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and common usage. It is most often found in news, scientific, and academic contexts, serving the purpose of informing about compromised states and potential risks. While generally neutral in tone, it leans towards formality and is best used with a clear specification of the contaminant. Consider related phrases like "was tainted by" or "was polluted with" for nuanced meanings. Avoid overuse of the passive voice for more impactful writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was tainted by

Changes the verb to "tainted", suggesting a slight degradation or corruption rather than pure contamination.

was polluted with

Replaces "contaminated" with "polluted", focusing on the presence of harmful substances.

was infected with

Suggests a biological contamination, often related to diseases or pathogens.

was adulterated with

Implies that something has been made impure or lower in quality by adding another substance.

contained traces of

Indicates the presence of a contaminant in small quantities.

had been exposed to

Focuses on the exposure event leading to potential contamination.

was riddled with

Implies a widespread and pervasive contamination.

suffered from pollution by

Shifts the focus to the suffering caused by pollution.

exhibited the presence of

A more formal way of indicating contamination.

showed signs of impurity from

Highlights the evidence of contamination rather than the act itself.

FAQs

What does "was contaminated with" mean?

The phrase "was contaminated with" means that something has been polluted or tainted by a harmful or unwanted substance. It indicates that the original state of the object has been compromised by the presence of a contaminant.

What can I say instead of "was contaminated with"?

You can use alternatives like "was tainted by", "was polluted with", or "was infected with", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "was contaminated with"?

While using "was contaminated with" in the passive voice is grammatically correct, using the active voice can often make your writing more direct and impactful. For example, instead of "The water was contaminated with lead", you could say "Lead contaminated the water".

What are some common things that are described as "contaminated with"?

Common things described as "contaminated with" include water supplies, food products, soil, and medical supplies. The contaminants can range from bacteria and viruses to chemicals and radioactive materials.