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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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was not retained

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was not retained" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where something was not kept, preserved, or maintained, such as in discussions about data, information, or memories. Example: "The information provided during the meeting was not retained for future reference."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Domenech was not retained as coach.

But the company was not retained to do yearly monitoring, said John Fremer, Caveon's president.

News & Media

The New York Times

Riek Machar, who had served as Kiir's vice president, was not retained.

John Franco assumed the responsibility for several years until he was not retained after the 2004 season.

News & Media

The New York Times

Steve Smith was not retained as third-base coach, and Jimy Williams chose not to return as bench coach.

News & Media

The New York Times

Rice spent 11 years as a U.N.L.V. assistant but was not retained when Lon Kruger was hired in 2004.

Lambda-cyhalothrin was not retained by GCB, while many interfering matrix compounds were removed.

For example, the diagnostic criteria of Proulx include gastrointestinal dysfunction, which was not retained by Goldstein.

Interestingly, lactate was not retained in the novel qSOFA during model construction.

The Home Office has faced calls to explain why the material was not "retained" by officials.

News & Media

BBC

The Home Office has faced calls to explain why the dossier was "not retained" by officials.

News & Media

BBC
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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was not retained", ensure the context clearly indicates what was not kept and why. For instance, specify if it was a person, data, or a particular characteristic.

Common error

Avoid using "was not retained" with plural subjects. Ensure subject-verb agreement by using "were not retained" for plural subjects.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

82%

Authority and reliability

4.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was not retained" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the subject did not undergo the action of being kept or maintained. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

29%

Wiki

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was not retained" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that indicates something was not kept or preserved. Ludwig AI examples show its prevalence across News & Media, Scientific, Wiki, and Encyclopedic contexts. While versatile, it's important to ensure subject-verb agreement. Alternatives include "was not kept", "was not preserved", and "was not maintained", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Ludwig confirms that this phrase is correct and usable in written English, making it a reliable option for expressing a lack of retention.

FAQs

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

You can use "was not retained" to indicate that something was not kept or preserved. For example, "The employee "was not retained" after the merger" or "The original data "was not retained" during the data migration process".

What are some alternatives to "was not retained"?

Some alternatives include "was not kept", "was not preserved", "was not maintained", or "was not continued", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to use "was not retained" or "were not retained"?

"Was not retained" is used with singular nouns or uncountable nouns, while "were not retained" is used with plural nouns. For example, "The file "was not retained"" versus "The files "were not retained"".

What's the difference between "was not retained" and "was not kept"?

While similar, "was not retained" often implies a more formal or deliberate decision not to keep something, whereas "was not kept" is a more general term for something not being held or maintained. For example "The consultant "was not retained"" and "The information "was not kept"".

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Source & Trust

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Authority and reliability

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Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: