was not opened

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was not opened" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something, such as a door, package, or document, has not been opened or accessed. Example: "The letter was not opened until the following week, revealing important information."

✓ Grammatically correct

Construction and Building Materials

Academia

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The water film was not opened throughout in the control group.

Construction and Building Materials

A shunt procedure was performed at two days of age; the right ventricular outflow tract was not opened.

Stanford University

But Mr. Malik said that case was not opened to reduce international pressure regarding Mr. Saeed.

The New York Times

For one thing, a bank account referred to in the letterhead of the 1955 Bigenwald was not opened until 1963.

The New York Times - Arts

You know registered letters are always liable to be opened by thieves, so I would not be surprised, if my letter was not opened.

University of California, Berkeley

The $2.1 million iPhone contract was awarded in late September and revealed last week in a government document explaining why it was not opened to competitive tenders.

The New York Times

"The letter was not opened, and the staffer followed the proper protocols for the situation, including alerting the authorities, who are now investigating.

The New York Times

"The letter was not opened, and the staffer followed the proper protocols for the situation, including alerting the authorities, who are now investigating," he said.

The New York Times

Hunan was not opened to foreign trade until 1904, following the conclusion of the Treaty of Shanghai between China and Japan.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In the event, it was not opened until 2004, revealing a fascinating treasure trove of clothes, makeup, jewellery, medicines and other intimate possessions.

The Guardian - Arts

The prosecution case was not opened and no details were given in court about the offences to which Gamble has admitted.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was not opened" to emphasize the lack of access or alteration to something, distinguishing it from situations where something might have been tampered with or accessed.

Common error

Avoid using "was not opened by" when a more direct phrasing is possible. For instance, instead of "the email was not opened by him", consider "he did not open the email" for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was not opened" primarily functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that something (the subject) did not undergo the action of being opened. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is a common and usable phrase in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

20%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was not opened" is a versatile and grammatically sound expression, as confirmed by Ludwig. It's frequently used across various contexts, from news and media to scientific and academic writing. When employing this phrase, clarity is key: ensure the subject and context are clear. For more impactful writing, consider related alternatives such as "remained unopened" or "stayed closed". Remember to avoid passive constructions when direct phrasing enhances readability. As Ludwig AI demonstrates, understanding these nuances ensures effective and precise communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

remained unopened

Focuses on the state of being unopened over a period.

stayed closed

Emphasizes the action of remaining in a closed state.

was kept sealed

Highlights the act of keeping something closed and secure.

was never accessed

Shifts focus to the lack of access rather than the physical opening.

was left untouched

Implies a lack of interaction or alteration.

was not unsealed

Highlights the absence of the action of unsealing.

was not unclosed

Emphasizes the absence of an action in something that was not closed originally.

was not entered

Focuses on the act of entering something closed, in this case is absent.

was preserved intact

Implies careful maintenance of the original state.

was not disturbed

Suggests that something was left in its original condition, untouched or unaltered.

FAQs

How can I rephrase the sentence "The package was not opened"?

Alternatives include "The package remained unopened", "The package stayed sealed", or "The package "was left untouched"", depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

Is there a difference between saying "was not opened" and "remained closed"?

"Was not opened" indicates a lack of action, whereas "remained closed" emphasizes the continuous state of being shut. You can use alternatives like "stayed closed" depending on the context.

When should I use "was not opened" instead of "was never opened"?

"Was not opened" implies a specific instance where something didn't occur, while "was never opened" suggests it didn't occur at any time. You can use "was never accessed" if you want to highlight the absence of access rather than a one-time action.

Can "was not opened" be used in a metaphorical sense?

Yes, it can be used metaphorically to describe something unexplored or unrevealed. For example, "the potential of the project was not opened", meaning the potential was not realized or explored.