was not shown

USAGE SUMMARY

"was not shown" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it as a past tense verb phrase. For example: The evidence that the suspect was guilty was not shown in court.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

(Kyla Ross was not shown).

The New York Times

May's speech was not shown to Clarke.

The Guardian

-- was not shown on the 25-second tape.

The Washington Post

He was not shown a photo of Mr. Wiese.

The New York Times

It is Oct. 10; it was not shown Tuesday night.

The New York Times - Arts

It was not shown again for fourteen years.

The New Yorker

It is tomorrow; the film was not shown last Monday.

The New York Times

The Wellstone endorsement was not shown at all.

The New York Times

But does he wish the programme was not shown?

The Guardian

It was not shown in Italy again until 1987.

The New Yorker

It was not shown in the United States until 1966.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was not shown", ensure that the context clearly indicates what was not displayed or revealed to avoid ambiguity. Specify the subject to whom it was not shown for better clarity.

Common error

Avoid overusing passive constructions like "was not shown" if an active voice alternative provides a clearer, more direct statement. Consider rephrasing to highlight the actor performing the action, which usually improve readability and concision.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was not shown" functions primarily as a passive verb phrase. It indicates that a subject did not receive the action of being displayed or revealed. Ludwig confirms this, providing numerous examples across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was not shown" is a common and grammatically sound passive verb phrase used to indicate the absence of presentation or visibility. According to Ludwig, it is found frequently in news, scientific, and academic contexts. When using "was not shown", ensure the context clarifies what exactly was not displayed to avoid ambiguity. While acceptable in various settings, consider active voice alternatives for a more direct writing style. The frequency and authoritative source citations confirm its established place in English writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was not displayed

Focuses on the lack of visual presentation.

was not revealed

Emphasizes that information was kept hidden or undisclosed.

was not presented

Highlights the absence of a formal presentation or introduction.

was not visible

Indicates that something could not be seen.

was not apparent

Suggests that something was not easily noticed or understood.

was not demonstrated

Implies that something was not proven or validated.

was not illustrated

Focuses on the lack of a visual representation or example.

was not disclosed

Highlights that information was not made public.

remained unseen

Emphasizes the continuous state of being unobserved.

did not appear

Indicates the absence of something expected or anticipated.

FAQs

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

Use "was not shown" to indicate something that was not displayed, revealed, or presented. For example, "The evidence "was not shown" in court" or "The film "was not shown" until 1985".

What's a more active way to say "was not shown"?

Instead of "was not shown", consider using active voice constructions such as "they did not show", "the evidence omitted", or "the presentation excluded". These alternatives can make your writing more direct and engaging.

What are some alternatives to "was not shown"?

You can use alternatives like "was not displayed", "was not revealed", or "was not presented" depending on the context.

Is "was not shown" formal or informal?

"Was not shown" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. Its appropriateness depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and sentence structure than the phrase itself.