was not noticed

USAGE SUMMARY

'was not noticed' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something did not receive any attention. For example: The defect in the vase was not noticed until it was too late.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"It was not noticed".

The New York Times

As I have said, this was not noticed.

The Guardian - Books

This was not noticed at the time, but showed up on the FDR.

The Guardian

If this were not so laughable, it would be worrying that it was not noticed in the first place.

The Guardian - Opinion

If, as the new study suggests, one-fourth of all schizophrenics have older fathers, it may seem puzzling that the correlation was not noticed long ago.

The New York Times

It was not noticed when the Thomas H. Lee companies took control of Refco in a leveraged buyout in 2004, or when Refco went public in August 2005.

The New York Times

The new system was installed in September 1998 but was turned off almost immediately, a fact that was not noticed because the internal staff made no checks.

The New York Times

Among the famous love scenes there is one that was not noticed by judge or jury, by the prosecution or defence - not by anybody.

The Guardian - Books

The coroner said he could not understand why it was not noticed that the log said a fire detection and suppression system existed in the dry bay when no such system had ever existed.

The Guardian

One was an object observed by radar near the shuttle during the second day of the flight, which was not noticed until the radar was analyzed after the crash.

The New York Times

Mr. Lay said he was sorry about "the misunderstanding" that resulted when his brief mention of the $1.2 billion reduction in shareholder equity in a conference call last week was not noticed by some analysts.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was not noticed" when you want to emphasize that something failed to attract attention or be recognized, often with the implication that it should have been.

Common error

Ensure the context makes it clear who should have noticed the thing in question. Ambiguous passive voice can weaken your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was not noticed" functions as a passive construction, indicating that something did not receive attention. Ludwig examples show this phrase used to describe oversights in various contexts, from scientific findings to everyday observations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

40%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was not noticed" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase in English to express that something went unobserved or undetected. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage spans across diverse contexts, including news, science, and general communication. While alternatives such as ""went unnoticed"" or ""was overlooked"" offer similar meanings, "was not noticed" effectively conveys a lack of awareness. When using this phrase, ensure clarity in identifying who should have noticed the subject. The phrase's versatility and frequent appearance in reputable sources underscore its reliability and appropriateness for both formal and informal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

went unnoticed

This alternative is a more concise and direct way of saying something was not observed or detected.

was missed

This alternative is a simpler way to convey that something was not perceived or understood.

was overlooked

This alternative suggests that something was missed due to carelessness or inattention.

was not detected

This alternative is often used in technical or scientific contexts to indicate a failure to identify something.

escaped detection

This alternative emphasizes the failure to be detected, often implying a deliberate attempt to avoid notice.

passed unobserved

This alternative highlights that something happened without being seen or remarked upon.

flew under the radar

This alternative is an idiomatic expression meaning that something avoided attention, often intentionally.

was unseen

This alternative focuses specifically on the lack of visual perception.

remained unacknowledged

This alternative suggests that something was not recognized or given due credit.

was disregarded

This alternative implies a conscious decision to ignore something, rather than a failure to notice it.

FAQs

How can I use "was not noticed" in a sentence?

Use "was not noticed" to indicate that something went unseen or unremarked. For example, "The error in the report "was not noticed" until the audit."

What are some alternatives to "was not noticed"?

Alternatives include "went unnoticed", "was overlooked", or "escaped detection". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "was not noticed"?

Whether to use active or passive voice depends on the context. The passive voice (as in "was not noticed") is useful when you don't know or don't want to specify who should have noticed it. Active voice is better when you want to emphasize who failed to notice something.

What's the difference between "was not noticed" and "was not noted"?

"Was not noticed" implies a failure to perceive something, while "was not noted" suggests a failure to record or document something. The terms are similar but emphasize different aspects of inattention.