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Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
was not retrieved
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "was not retrieved" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where information or data was expected to be obtained but was not found or accessed. Example: "The requested file was not retrieved due to a network error."
✓ Grammatically correct
Science
News & Media
Academia
Alternative expressions(20)
was not found
could not be accessed
was not recovered
could not be located
was not extracted
was not fired
was not derived
was not acknowledged
was not given
was not recorded
was overlooked
was not replaced
did not incorporate
was not complied with
was not called
was not achieved
went unnoticed
was not drafted
was not removed
was not processed
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
40 human-written examples
One possible explanation is that a large proportion of non-retrieved queries (74.8 % if we consider 100 users) was not retrieved because they do not contain keywords that has been already used in the previous queries of users.
At the request of prosecutors, he returned a $27,000 deposit made on his client's property; it was not retrieved by them.
News & Media
The message was not retrieved until Friday because the Florida Department of Transportation official to whom the voice mail was directed was out of the office on assignment, the state agency said.
News & Media
"Then a man rose up to the pier from the water". The buggy, however, was not retrieved - and remained on the sea floor.
News & Media
Although the catheter was passed smoothly through the left iliac arteries, the thrombus of the left iliac arteries was not retrieved completely and the left external iliac artery remained stenotic.
Science
Seven patients were excluded (four due to a poor image fusion between SPECT and CT related to important movements, one for whom the SPECT/CT was not retrieved from PACS (picture archiving and communication system), another for whom the field of view of the CT was too small, and finally one who declined to participate in the study).
Science
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
20 human-written examples
Optically thinner clouds are not retrieved because they are excluded in the retrieval algorithm as clear sky.
Very optically thin clouds are not retrieved because they are identified as clear sky in the retrieval algorithm.
By default the ACIS and HRC background files are not retrieved.
Academia
Due to their size, the ACIS and HRC background files are not retrieved by default.
Academia
The category cues were presented to elicit cued recall of only those items that were not retrieved by free recall.
Science & Research
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When using "was not retrieved", ensure the context clearly indicates what attempt was made to retrieve something and why it might have failed. For instance, specify the database, system, or method used in the retrieval attempt.
Common error
Avoid using "was not retrieved" without specifying what or who failed to retrieve it. Vague phrasing can confuse readers. For example, instead of saying 'The data was not retrieved', specify 'The system administrator was not able to retrieve the lost data'.
Source & Trust
83%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "was not retrieved" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that a subject did not receive or obtain something. The Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. The passive voice emphasizes the object or information that failed to be retrieved, rather than the agent performing the retrieval.
Frequent in
Science
60%
News & Media
20%
Academia
10%
Less common in
Wiki
5%
Formal & Business
5%
Reference
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, the phrase "was not retrieved" is a grammatically correct and commonly used passive construction that indicates the failure to obtain or access something. As validated by Ludwig AI, this phrase is frequently used in scientific, news, and academic contexts. When using "was not retrieved", ensure clarity by specifying what attempt was made and what failed. Alternatives include phrases like ""was not found"" or ""could not be accessed"", depending on the specific meaning you wish to convey.
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
could not be accessed
Focuses on the inability to gain access to something.
was not obtained
Emphasizes the failure to acquire something.
was not found
Highlights the lack of discovery of something.
was not recovered
Suggests an attempt to get something back that had been lost.
remained unrecovered
Indicates that something was never successfully recovered.
proved unrecoverable
Emphasizes the impossibility of retrieving something.
could not be located
Highlights the failure to find something.
eluded retrieval
Focuses on the fact that something avoided being retrieved.
was inaccessible
Focuses on something's inaccessibility.
was not extracted
Focuses on the failure to remove or draw something out.
FAQs
How can I use "was not retrieved" in a sentence?
You can use "was not retrieved" to indicate that something could not be found or accessed. For example, "The information "was not retrieved" from the database" or "The item "was not retrieved" after the search".
What are some alternatives to "was not retrieved"?
Alternatives to "was not retrieved" include "was not found", "was not obtained", or "could not be accessed", depending on the specific context.
Is it better to use "was not retrieved" or "could not be retrieved"?
Both "was not retrieved" and "could not be retrieved" are grammatically correct. "Was not retrieved" is a simple past passive form, while "could not be retrieved" expresses a lack of ability. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize the action or the inability to perform the action.
What's the difference between "was not retrieved" and "was not recovered"?
"Was not retrieved" generally means that something was not initially found or accessed. "Was not recovered" implies that something was lost or missing and an attempt to get it back failed. For example, "The password "was not retrieved" from the system", versus "The deleted file "was not recovered" after the system crash".
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
83%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested