was diagnosed with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was diagnosed with" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe the results of a medical diagnosis. For example, "The patient was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Science & Research

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He was diagnosed with diabetes in 1994.

Forbes

He was diagnosed with asthenoteratozoospermia.

EXPLORE: The Journal of Science and Healing

Then he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer.

Science Magazine

This past summer, he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Science Magazine

She was diagnosed with AAC.

Surgical Case Reports

He was diagnosed with HCC.

Surgical Case Reports

She was diagnosed with PPGL.

Surgical Case Reports

She was diagnosed with SCA6.

JA Clinical Reports

At age 6, she was diagnosed with dyslexia and placed in remedial classes.

Science Magazine

Upon returning home to Washington, D.C., he was diagnosed with testicular cancer.

Science Magazine

He was diagnosed with Ebola only 5 days after his death.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about a diagnosis, be specific about the condition. Instead of saying "was diagnosed with a problem", specify "was diagnosed with diabetes".

Common error

Do not use the phrase "was diagnosed with" without explicitly stating the condition. Vague language reduces clarity and can confuse the reader. Always specify the diagnosed condition.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was diagnosed with" functions as a passive construction indicating that a person received a formal medical diagnosis. Ludwig shows its use across various contexts, reflecting its role in conveying medical information.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

30%

Science & Research

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was diagnosed with" is a common and grammatically correct way to report a medical diagnosis. Ludwig's analysis of numerous examples confirms its prevalence in scientific, news, and research contexts. The phrase serves the purpose of conveying factual medical information, fitting primarily into neutral to formal registers. While alternative phrases exist, "was diagnosed with" remains a clear and widely accepted choice. AI analysis confirms the phrase's proper usage in describing medical conditions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

received a diagnosis of

Replaces the passive voice with an active construction, focusing on the individual receiving the diagnosis.

given a diagnosis of

Highlights that the diagnosis has been issued.

identified as having

Emphasizes the process of identifying a condition rather than the formal act of diagnosis.

determined to have

Highlights the determination or conclusion that a person has a specific condition.

found to be suffering from

Focuses on the suffering aspect and the discovery of the condition.

presented with a diagnosis of

Highlights the act of presenting the diagnosis to the patient.

came to be diagnosed with

Describes the process leading up to the diagnosis.

recognized as having

Similar to "identified as having" but emphasizes the recognition aspect.

confirmed to have

Highlights the confirmation of a pre-existing suspicion or concern.

underwent diagnosis revealing

Focuses on the diagnostic process and its outcome.

FAQs

How to use "was diagnosed with" in a sentence?

Use "was diagnosed with" to indicate that someone has received a formal medical diagnosis. For example, "The patient "was diagnosed with" pneumonia after the test results came back."

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

You can use alternatives like "received a diagnosis of", "identified as having", or "determined to have" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "was diagnosed with" in formal writing?

Yes, "was diagnosed with" is appropriate for formal writing, especially in medical reports, scientific papers, and professional communications. However, consider the context and audience when choosing alternatives.

What's the difference between "was diagnosed with" and "has"?

""was diagnosed with"" implies a specific point in the past when the diagnosis was made. "Has" simply indicates that the person currently has the condition, without specifying when they were diagnosed.