was found damaged

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "was found damaged" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are trying to explain that something has been discovered to be in a damaged state. For example, "The laptop, which was dropped by the previous owner, was found damaged."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

The second, a cockpit recorder, was found damaged.

The Guardian

It was found damaged early this morning, with its air bags deployed, in a parking lot in Centereach, about 30 miles west of Ms. Czaplick's home, the police said.

The New York Times

Police said that a man, matching the description of the one caught on CCTV, was involved in this second aborted attempt to break into a car, whose lock was found damaged and scratched.

Independent

A case study, a photovoltaic plant where a solar panel was found damaged subsequent to a storm, is used to demonstrate the concepts of the methodology.

Electric Power Systems Research

The large pumping station that the Italians had installed to serve the township and Fort Capuzzo was found damaged but was soon repaired.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

The other tapes were found damaged, officials said.

The New York Times

On Monday, more than a hundred and fifty gravestones were found damaged or toppled at a historic Jewish cemetery near St . Louis

The New Yorker

A total of 198 electric poles were found damaged after Nilam hit, he said, but now about 100 have already been repaired and power has been restored in many places.

The New York Times

Overall, 36 (12.4%) of the 290 active filters tested were found damaged during visits, mainly due to rodents chewing on the soft hoses (n = 35).

Plosone

Widodo announced to gathered reporters: "I have told the minister of environment and forestry to review the licenses of the companies that have converted peatlands into monoculture plantations if they are found damaging the ecosystem".

Vice

But after she was under anesthesia, the donor kidney was found to be damaged, and the operation was called off.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was found damaged" when you want to emphasize the discovery of a pre-existing condition rather than the act of damaging itself. For example, instead of saying 'The storm damaged the roof', you might say 'The roof was found damaged after the storm' to focus on the state of the roof.

Common error

Avoid using "was found damaged" when you should be using an active construction to indicate who or what caused the damage. For example, don't say 'The vase was found damaged by John' if you can say 'John damaged the vase'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was found damaged" functions as a passive construction, indicating that something has been discovered in a state of damage. Ludwig AI shows many examples from news and scientific sources illustrating its widespread use. It emphasizes the state of the object rather than the agent that caused the damage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

55%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was found damaged" is a grammatically sound passive construction used to report the discovery of something in a damaged state. As Ludwig AI confirms, it appears in various contexts, including news reports, scientific articles, and general communication. While it is not as common as other phrases, it serves a specific purpose in emphasizing the state of an object upon discovery. Its neutral register makes it suitable for a wide array of writing styles, and the examples provide useful context for its proper usage. Remember to use this phrase to focus on the condition of the object, rather than who or what caused the damage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was discovered to be damaged

Replaces "found" with "discovered" for a slightly more formal tone.

was identified as damaged

Emphasizes the act of identifying the damage as a specific attribute.

showed signs of damage

Shifts the focus to the evidence of damage rather than the discovery itself.

exhibited damage

A more formal way of saying something showed damage.

was in a state of disrepair

Indicates a condition of neglect and damage.

presented with damage

Common in technical or medical contexts, indicating damage was evident upon inspection.

was noted to be impaired

Highlights the functional reduction or compromise due to damage.

damage was detected

Focuses on the detection of damage, rather than the object being damaged.

was revealed to be faulty

Suggests a pre-existing condition of being broken or defective that has been uncovered.

the damage was ascertained

Implies that the damage was determined after a careful examination.

FAQs

How can I use "was found damaged" in a sentence?

Use "was found damaged" to describe something that, upon inspection, is discovered to be in a state of disrepair. For example, "The antique clock "was found damaged" after being shipped across the country".

What are some alternatives to "was found damaged"?

You can use alternatives like "was discovered to be damaged", "showed signs of damage", or "exhibited damage" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to use "was found damaged" or "was discovered damaged"?

Both "was found damaged" and "was discovered damaged" are grammatically correct. "Was discovered damaged" might be perceived as slightly more formal, but they are largely interchangeable. The best choice depends on the tone and style of your writing.

What's the difference between saying something "was found damaged" and "was damaged"?

Saying something "was damaged" implies that the act of damaging occurred at some point. Saying it ""was found damaged"" emphasizes the state of being damaged upon discovery, without necessarily specifying when or how the damage occurred.