was gleaned from

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was gleaned from" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that information or knowledge has been obtained from a particular source. Example: "The data for this report was gleaned from various academic journals and articles."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

The idea for this was gleaned from Handler's personal experience.

The New York Times - Magazine

Information about the projects was gleaned from interviews with local officials and zoning documents.

The New York Times

Much of their engineering prowess, the students said, was gleaned from the Internet.

The New York Times

The material was gleaned from the couple's personal correspondence and private papers.

The New York Times

Her command of the English language was gleaned from Baruch campus of CCNY.

The New York Times

Mr. Leiba said he once thought sophistication was gleaned from the past.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

Many meals are gleaned from restaurant garbage.

The New York Times

So information has to be gleaned from living sources.

The New York Times - Science

So what could be gleaned from the picture of Princess Elizabeth?

Independent

How much in savings can be gleaned from wasteful spending?

The New York Times

But the recipes were gleaned from the air.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was gleaned from" to subtly imply that the information was discovered or gathered with some effort or care. It's more evocative than alternatives like "was obtained from".

Common error

While "was gleaned from" is acceptable in many contexts, avoid overusing it in highly formal or scientific writing where more direct and precise language might be preferred. Alternatives like "was derived from" or "was extracted from" may be more suitable in those cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was gleaned from" functions as a passive construction indicating that information, knowledge, or insight was acquired from a particular source. As evidenced by Ludwig, this construction is commonly used to attribute the origin of information.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Science

43%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was gleaned from" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to indicate that information or knowledge has been acquired from a specific source. According to Ludwig, its neutral register makes it suitable for various writing contexts, including news, science, and general communication. While versatile, remember that more formal alternatives like "was derived from" or "was extracted from" may be more appropriate in certain highly technical or academic settings. Be mindful of overuse and consider synonyms to enhance writing style and clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was derived from

Replaces "gleaned" with "derived", suggesting a more formal and methodical extraction of information.

was obtained from

Offers a more general and neutral alternative to "gleaned", focusing on the act of acquiring information.

was extracted from

Implies a careful and often laborious process of taking information from a source.

was taken from

Provides a simpler, more direct substitute, suitable for less formal contexts.

was learned from

Shifts the focus to the acquisition of knowledge, rather than the extraction of information.

was gathered from

Suggests a process of collecting information from multiple sources.

originated from

Focuses on the origin or source of something, rather than the act of obtaining it.

stemmed from

Emphasizes the causal relationship between the source and the information.

was inferred from

Suggests that the information was deduced or concluded based on evidence from the source.

was ascertained from

Highlights that the information was established or confirmed after careful investigation of the source.

FAQs

How can I use "was gleaned from" in a sentence?

You can use "was gleaned from" to indicate that information or knowledge was obtained from a specific source. For example, "The data for the report "was gleaned from" academic journals and articles."

What are some alternatives to "was gleaned from"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "was derived from", "was obtained from", or "was extracted from".

What's the difference between "was gleaned from" and "was obtained from"?

"Was gleaned from" suggests a more careful or subtle discovery of information, while "was obtained from" is a more general and neutral term for acquiring information.

Is "was gleaned from" appropriate for formal writing?

Yes, "was gleaned from" is generally appropriate for formal writing. However, in highly technical or scientific contexts, consider using more precise alternatives like "was derived from" or "was extracted from".