was found out

USAGE SUMMARY

"was found out" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has been discovered or revealed, often through investigation or investigation. For example, "The truth about the scam was found out eventually."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He was found out, of course.

The New York Times

He was found out and died in Dachau.

The Economist

She was found out and thrown out – but then her luck began.

The Guardian - Music

By the time he was found out, Wallice's condition was fulminant.

The Guardian - Books

She was found out after profuse bleeding sent her to the emergency room.

The Guardian

The fact that a star of Mr. Ghesquiere's stature was found out may be sanction enough.

The New York Times

When their correspondence was found out, he asked her not to write again.

The Economist

"It would be only a matter of time before I was found out".

Independent

Lionel was arrested last month after he was found out late at night and carrying a knife.

The New York Times

Perhaps, in the brutal way of things, Henry was found out: he simply wasn't up to the job.

The Guardian

Root mean square error was found out as 1.56.

Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was found out" when you want to emphasize the discovery of something, especially after a period of concealment or investigation.

Common error

Avoid replacing the passive voice "was found out" with an active voice construction when the actor is unknown or unimportant, as this can weaken the sentence's focus.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was found out" functions as a passive construction, indicating that a person or thing has been discovered, often after an attempt to remain hidden or secret. As Ludwig AI explains, it's considered grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

43%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was found out" is a grammatically sound and frequently used passive construction that indicates discovery or exposure. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s applicable across diverse contexts, from news and media to scientific and formal settings. While its register is generally neutral, understanding the nuances of its usage and potential alternatives like "was discovered" or "was revealed" can enhance writing precision. Remember to favor this form when prioritizing the revelation of a concealed fact over the actor revealing it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was discovered

Direct synonym focusing on the act of discovery.

was revealed

Emphasizes the unveiling of something previously hidden.

was exposed

Suggests a more forceful or scandalous revelation.

was uncovered

Implies an investigative process leading to discovery.

was brought to light

A more formal way of saying something was revealed.

was caught

Focuses on the act of being apprehended in wrongdoing.

was detected

Suggests the use of a specific method or tool for discovery.

was identified

Highlights the recognition or naming of something.

came to light

More generic way of stating discovery.

the truth came out

Focuses specifically on the revelation of truth.

FAQs

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

You can use "was found out" to indicate that someone's secret or wrongdoing has been discovered, for instance: "He "was found out" when his lies were exposed."

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

A more formal alternative could be "was discovered" or "was revealed", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "was found out"?

The phrase "was found out" is inherently passive. Using the active voice would require restructuring the sentence, potentially shifting the emphasis. For example, instead of "He "was found out"", you could say "Someone found him out", which changes the focus.

What does "was found out" imply about the situation?

It typically implies that there was an attempt to conceal something, and that the discovery "was exposed" despite those efforts.