was found missing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was found missing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to indicate that something has gone missing or can no longer be found. For example, "The painting was found missing from the museum just two days after it was donated."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

In the early 80's, the State Athletic Commission banned him from boxing for life when mandatory padding was found missing from his gloves after a fight.

The New York Times

When a prototype of an Apple iPhone was found missing in July, security officers accused a worker of stealing it and beat him.

Forbes

The upper right lateral incisor was found missing more in the CL + P R group (38.2%); whereas the upper left lateral incisor was primarily missing in the CL + P B group (43.6%) and secondarily in the CL + P L group (40.7%).

Progress in Orthodontics

Fetus and/or baby report was found missing for 12%%.

Archives of Women's Mental Health

Many of these tools would also add significance the pathway/association analysis, which was found missing from this study.

Biology Direct

One 1109 aa hypothetical WB protein (GL50803_137673) was found missing in AS175, but a diverged homolog was found in the recently sequenced AII isolate DH and in AS98 on one of the de novo assembled contigs.

BMC Genomics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Unclaimed bodies left to rot were found missing their genitals.

The Guardian

If one pellet breaks or is found missing, death is certain.

The New York Times

I worried that they would be found missing back at their place, but somehow they knew when they could get away safely.

The New Yorker

But too often the plucky scavenger and pilot Rey has been found missing from toy shelves, a decision by retailers the director JJ Abrams has called "preposterous and wrong".

The Guardian - Film

In our sample, the upper lateral incisors followed by the upper right premolar were found missing most frequently in the cleft area.

Progress in Orthodontics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was found missing" to clearly state that something expected to be present is not there, often implying a search or discovery of its absence.

Common error

Avoid using passive voice constructions when active voice would be clearer. For example, instead of "The report was found missing by the team", consider "The team found the report missing."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was found missing" functions as a passive construction indicating the discovery of something's absence. It's commonly used to report that an item or person is no longer where it should be, as supported by Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

42%

Encyclopedias

4%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was found missing" is a grammatically sound and usable English expression that indicates the discovery of an absence. Ludwig AI indicates that its usage spans across news reports, scientific papers, and general contexts. While it's considered a neutral phrase, it's more prevalent in news and science, but remember it's crucial to ensure clarity and avoid passive constructions when active voice might be more direct. Alternatives such as "was discovered to be absent" or "was determined to be lost" can add nuance, but "was found missing" efficiently conveys the core message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was discovered to be absent

Emphasizes the act of discovering the absence rather than just noting it.

was determined to be lost

Focuses on the determination of something being lost after investigation.

was realized to be deficient

Highlights the realization that something lacked a necessary component.

was identified as absent

Highlights the identification of something being absent by means of examination.

was noted to be lacking

Focuses on simply noting the absence of something.

went unaccounted for

Shifts the focus to the item itself and its status of not being accounted for.

turned up missing

Highlights that something that was present, it became missing.

became apparent as absent

Indicates that the absence was not immediately obvious but became clear over time.

presented as incomplete

This alternative focuses on the state of incompleteness due to something missing.

proved to be deficient

Emphasizes the proving of something deficient after examination.

FAQs

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

You can use "was found missing" to describe something that was expected to be present but is no longer there. For example, "The key evidence in the case "was found missing" from the evidence room".

What's a more formal alternative to "was found missing"?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "was determined to be lost" or "was identified as absent", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "was found to be missing" instead of "was found missing"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but ""was found missing"" is more concise. The longer form, "was found to be missing", adds a degree of emphasis but isn't always necessary.

What's the difference between "was reported missing" and "was found missing"?

"Was reported missing" implies that someone officially declared something or someone as missing. "Was found missing" means it was discovered to be absent, often after a search or expectation of its presence.