was not thorough

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was not thorough" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation or action that lacked completeness or attention to detail. Example: "The report was not thorough, leading to several overlooked issues."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

His review was "informative but it was not thorough".

The Guardian

The study was not thorough enough to capture other risk factors, she said.

The New York Times

And it cannot be said that the study was not thorough.

Independent

However Climate blogger Steve McIntyre, however, who sent FOI requests to Jones, said the Muir Russel inquiry was not thorough enough to alleviate public concerns.

The Guardian

"FERC's study was not thorough enough to support its overall conclusion that audited companies were not physically withholding electricity supply to influence prices," the accounting office said.

The New York Times

Ms. Hunter, a videographer who was briefly hired by the Edwards campaign, said she thought she had destroyed it, but evidently was not thorough enough.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

That doesn't mean that he wasn't thorough.

The New Yorker

But the vetting wasn't thorough enough -- as shown by the scandal involving her firing of the state's public safety commissioner because he wouldn't fire his sister's ex-husband, a state trooper.

HuffPost

But he and other restaurateurs are concerned that the listings are not thorough or specific enough.

The New York Times

The graves appeared to have been plundered in antiquity, but the looters were not thorough.

The New York Times - Science

"The fact of the matter is we were not thorough with our research and we made a mistake," Johnson said.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When criticizing a process or analysis as "was not thorough", provide specific examples of what was missed or overlooked to strengthen your critique.

Common error

Avoid using "was not thorough" as a general critique without providing specific reasons why the subject lacked thoroughness. This weakens the impact of your statement. Instead, specify the missing elements or areas needing more attention.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was not thorough" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase, modifying a noun (e.g., investigation, review, analysis) to indicate a deficiency in its execution. As Ludwig AI highlights, it points to a lack of completeness or attention to detail.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was not thorough" is a common and grammatically correct way to express that something lacked completeness or attention to detail. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's frequently used in news, scientific, and business contexts. While generally neutral in tone, it often carries a critical connotation. To strengthen your writing, provide specific examples when using this phrase. Alternatives like "was incomplete" or "was superficial" can offer more nuance, depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was incomplete

Focuses on the state of being unfinished or lacking essential parts.

was superficial

Emphasizes a lack of depth or profoundness in the assessment.

was cursory

Highlights the haste and lack of attention in the execution.

was perfunctory

Stresses the routine and indifferent nature of the action.

was deficient

Indicates a lack of necessary qualities or elements.

was inadequate

Suggests the action was insufficient or not good enough.

lacked diligence

Emphasizes the absence of careful and persistent effort.

missed details

Specifically points out the omission of important information.

overlooked aspects

Highlights that certain facets were ignored or not considered.

failed to delve deeply

Stresses the lack of in-depth investigation or examination.

FAQs

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

You can use "was not thorough" to describe a review, investigation, or analysis that lacked completeness or attention to detail. For example, "The investigation "was not thorough", leading to several overlooked clues."

What are some alternatives to "was not thorough"?

Alternatives include "was incomplete", "was superficial", or "was cursory", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "wasn't thorough" or "was not thorough"?

Both "wasn't thorough" and "was not thorough" are grammatically correct, but "wasn't thorough" is more conversational, while "was not thorough" is more formal.

What does it mean when someone says an investigation "was not thorough"?

It means that the investigation failed to examine all relevant aspects, lacked attention to detail, or missed crucial evidence. This suggests the results may be unreliable or incomplete.