was deemed harmless

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was deemed harmless" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a judgment or assessment regarding the safety or impact of something, indicating that it was considered not to pose any danger. Example: "The substance was deemed harmless after extensive testing by the safety committee."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Firefighters said the package was deemed harmless.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The foaming agent, lauryl alcohol, is acutely toxic to marine animals, but has been deemed harmless to human health.

The Guardian

It is deemed harmless by the Food and Drug Administration, but critics say it has not been adequately tested for chain smokers who might use the e-cigarettes during most of their waking hours.

The New York Times

In the north and east, the Army occupied the land, pursuing a kind of clear-and-hold strategy, in which it herded the Tamil inhabitants into a series of Army-run "welfare camps" — essentially military prisons — and did not allow them out until they were deemed harmless.

The New Yorker

Even so, it was deemed to be "harmless error," and the conviction was upheld.

The New York Times

Lloyd was deemed missing.

The New York Times

The complex was deemed revolutionary.

The New York Times

It was deemed a success.

Independent

But "Orange" was deemed ineligible.

Los Angeles Times

As a general rule, mild attacks and seizures will have little impact on the dog and will be deemed as moderately harmless by any veterinarian.

WikiHow

"Over-classification run amok" was how Clinton spokesman Brian Fallon described the situation in January when it first emerged that 22 of the emails on the server that were due to be released as part of efforts to show it was harmless had been deemed "top secret" on further review.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was deemed harmless" when you want to indicate that a formal assessment or judgment concluded that something presents no danger or risk. It's suitable for official reports, news articles, and formal communications.

Common error

Avoid using "was deemed harmless" when active voice would be more direct and clear. For example, instead of "The package was deemed harmless by the bomb squad", consider "The bomb squad deemed the package harmless" for greater clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was deemed harmless" functions as a predicate adjective phrase in the passive voice. It describes the state or condition of a subject after it has undergone an evaluation or assessment. Ludwig AI confirms this use of predicate adjective phrase in context.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was deemed harmless" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to convey that something has been officially assessed and found to pose no danger. As Ludwig AI confirms, it commonly functions as a predicate adjective phrase in the passive voice. It frequently appears in news and media, science, and wiki contexts and has a neutral register, rendering it appropriate for a wide range of writing scenarios. When clarity and directness are paramount, consider active voice alternatives. The presence of multiple examples confirms its relevance in contemporary English usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was considered safe

Emphasizes a general evaluation of safety rather than a formal judgment.

was judged to be safe

Highlights the act of judging and concluding safety.

was determined to be innocuous

Replaces "harmless" with a synonym and emphasizes a process of determination.

was found not to be dangerous

Focuses on the absence of danger as the primary finding.

was cleared of any threat

Indicates a removal of suspicion or potential danger.

presented no risk

Highlights the lack of potential harm.

posed no hazard

Focuses on the absence of any potential danger.

was assessed as non-threatening

Emphasizes the assessment process and the resulting characterization.

did not present a danger

Focuses on the action of not presenting any danger.

was given a clean bill of health

Uses an idiomatic expression to signify the absence of any harm or danger.

FAQs

How can I use "was deemed harmless" in a sentence?

Use "was deemed harmless" to indicate that something has been assessed and judged to pose no threat or danger. For example: "The chemical /s/was+deemed+harmless after extensive testing".

What's a good alternative to "was deemed harmless"?

Alternatives include "was considered safe", "was judged to be safe", or "presented no risk", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more formal to say "was deemed harmless" or "was considered safe"?

"Was deemed harmless" tends to be more formal, suggesting an official assessment or judgment. "Was considered safe" is less formal and implies a general opinion or belief.

Can I use "was deemed harmless" to describe a person?

While technically possible, it's more common to use "was deemed harmless" for objects, substances, or situations. To describe a person, consider alternatives like "was considered non-threatening" or "posed no threat".