was not specified

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was not specified" is grammatically correct and is frequently used in written English.
Example: The deadline for the project was not specified, causing confusion among the team members.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The injury was not specified.

The New York Times

The substance was not specified.

The New York Times - Sports

(Which one was not specified).

The New York Times - Arts

This evidence was not specified.

The New York Times

The exact amount, however, was not specified.

The New York Times

Mr. Fiennes's role was not specified.

The New York Times

His arrival time was not specified.

The New York Times

How much lower was not specified.

Harvard University

Again, the nature of these products was not specified.

The New York Times

A total figure for monetary compensation was not specified.

The New York Times

A positive communications impact for whom was not specified.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was not specified", ensure the context clearly indicates what information is missing to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "was not specified" when you know who did not specify the information. In such cases, a more direct statement is preferable: "The author did not specify the method" is clearer than "The method was not specified."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was not specified" functions as a passive voice construction. It's used to indicate that a piece of information or a detail was absent or undefined in a particular context. As noted by Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

45%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was not specified" is a grammatically correct and widely used phrase to indicate a lack of particular details or information. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and high frequency. Its usage spans across diverse contexts, including news, science, and academia. When writing, it is important to use this phrase actively, providing context and highlighting the absent data point to ensure clarity. Related alternatives include "was not clarified" and "was not defined", offering nuanced ways to express a lack of detail. Ultimately, "was not specified" serves as a practical way to communicate the absence of key specifics.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was not clarified

Indicates a lack of clearness or precision; suggests an attempt at clarification may have been made but failed.

was left unspecified

Emphasizes that a conscious decision was made not to provide details.

was not detailed

Implies the absence of specific information or elaboration.

was not defined

Highlights the absence of a formal or explicit definition.

remained unstated

Suggests the information was intentionally or unintentionally left unsaid.

was not disclosed

Indicates the information was kept secret or not revealed.

was not indicated

Implies that there was no sign or suggestion of the information.

was not identified

Focuses on the absence of a specific identification or recognition.

details were lacking

Highlights the absence of necessary details to complete the information.

specifics were omitted

Implies the intentional exclusion of particular details.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "was not specified" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases such as "remained unspecified", "was not defined", or "was not disclosed", depending on the specific context.

What does it mean when something "was not specified"?

When something "was not specified", it means that particular details, information, or instructions were intentionally or unintentionally omitted or left undefined.

Is it grammatically correct to say "was not specified"?

Yes, "was not specified" is grammatically correct. It's a passive voice construction indicating that someone failed to specify something.

What's the difference between "was not specified" and "was not clarified"?

"Was not specified" indicates that something was never detailed initially, whereas "was not clarified" suggests an attempt to provide details was made, but the result remained unclear.