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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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was documented

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

"was documented" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used in the past tense in order to indicate that a particular event or situation was officially recorded or written down. For example, "The incident was documented in the company's records."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The event was documented with Instagram pictures.

News & Media

The New York Times

(Nearly all of his life was documented).

News & Media

The New York Times

All of this was documented photographically.

This research was documented by Johns Hopkins University.

News & Media

The New York Times

He pointed out how minutely Eisenhower's busy schedule was documented.

News & Media

The New Yorker

So much of his public life was documented on film.

The activity was documented through images and video.

News & Media

The Guardian

No stent thrombosis was documented.

The friction and wear behaviour was documented.

A torus doubling bifurcation was documented.

The MOI for each patient was documented.

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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was documented" to maintain a formal and objective tone, especially in academic or professional writing. For example, "The experimental procedure was documented in detail to ensure reproducibility."

Common error

Avoid using "was documented" in casual conversations or informal writing. Alternatives like "was recorded" or "was noted" may be more appropriate. For instance, instead of saying "The meeting was documented by Sarah", consider "Sarah took notes at the meeting".

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

85%

Authority and reliability

4.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was documented" functions as the passive voice of the verb "document". As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it indicates that a subject received the action of being recorded or officially written down. This construction is common in formal writing where the actor is less important than the action itself.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

68%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was documented" is a grammatically sound phrase functioning as the passive voice of "document", predominantly used to convey factual information objectively. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and usable in written English. Its register is formal, making it suitable for scientific, academic, and professional contexts, and should be used cautiously in casual conversations. Common in both Science and News & Media sources, "was documented" signifies that something has been officially recorded and serves to provide verifiable information.

FAQs

How can I use "was documented" in a sentence?

Use "was documented" to indicate that something has been officially recorded or written down. For example, "The error was documented in the system log."

What are some alternatives to "was documented"?

Alternatives include "was recorded", "was registered", or "was chronicled". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is "was documented" formal or informal?

"Was documented" is generally considered to be a formal phrase, suitable for academic, professional, or journalistic writing. Consider alternatives for informal contexts.

What's the difference between "was documented" and "was reported"?

"Was documented" implies a written record exists, while "was reported" simply means the information was communicated, possibly verbally. If the report resulted in written records, "was recorded", consider if the creation of a specific written documentation is relevant for the audience.

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Source & Trust

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Authority and reliability

4.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: