was observed performing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was observed performing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where someone is being watched or monitored while carrying out a specific action or task. Example: "The technician was observed performing maintenance on the equipment during the inspection."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

This sum was then divided by the total number of times the individual bee was observed performing all tasks.

Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology

The first and last time a bee was observed performing a specific task was its initiation and termination age for the given task.

Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology

The proportion of total pre-foraging effort that was dedicated to each individual task by each strain was calculated using the following procedure: First, the total number of times each individual was observed performing an individual task was summed.

Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology

We included three new items—'I was instructed in how to perform clinical skills on real patients', 'I was observed performing clinical tasks on real patients', and 'I received feedback on how I performed clinical tasks on real patients', derived from training theory, (Patrick 1992) to elicit more focused feedback on teaching behaviours for formative purposes.

Advances in Health Sciences Education

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

If a significant condition effect was observed, contrast analyses were performed.

British Journal of Nutrition

Huge variations are observed for subsequent runs that were performed with the same capsule and under the same conditions.

Biotechnology and Bioengineering

When 16 and 17 animals per group, respectively, were reached analysis of the observed mortality difference was performed and a statistical difference was observed.

Critical Care

This occurs when participants are faster to perform an action with the same effector as that which they observe, regardless of whether the observed effector is performing the same action or not (Leighton and Heyes 2010; Cook and Bird 2011).

Cerebral Cortex

The importance of the observed differences was demonstrated by performing a simulation of a Station Blackout transient with the RELAP5 computer code for a lead-cooled fast reactor.

Nuclear Engineering and Design

The uniqueness of observed peptides was verified by performing a peptide sequence search using the BLASTP function of the BLAST search engine (http://blast.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Blast.cgi) and a single peptide unique to EGFR was chosen which spans residues 98 108 of the EGFR extracellular domain.

Clinical Proteomics

For each compartment, a chi-square test was performed between observed and expected counts of telo-box motif as compared to observed and expected counts in the rest of the genome.

BMC Plant Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was observed performing", ensure the context clearly indicates who or what was doing the observing. For instance, "The researcher was observed performing the experiment" is more precise than "It was observed performing the experiment."

Common error

Avoid using "was observed performing" in passive constructions where the actor is unclear, which can lead to ambiguity. Instead, clearly state who or what was doing the observing to maintain clarity and precision.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was observed performing" functions as part of a passive construction, indicating that someone or something was the subject of an observation while carrying out a specific action. Ludwig AI, based on available examples, confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

100%

Less common in

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was observed performing" is a grammatically correct passive construction used to describe someone or something being watched while carrying out a specific action or task. According to Ludwig, it’s appropriate for formal contexts like science, academia, and professional settings. While less frequent than alternatives like "was seen doing", it adds a tone of formal observation. When writing, ensure that the context clearly indicates who or what was doing the observing to avoid ambiguity. Remember Ludwig AI examples shows that this phrase is adequate for scientific purposes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was seen executing

Focuses on the act of carrying out the action.

was noted carrying out

Highlights the act of recording or taking note of the performance.

was witnessed undertaking

A more formal alternative, emphasizing the commencement and progression of the task.

was found to be doing

Emphasizes the discovery of the action in progress.

was viewed enacting

Emphasizes the visual aspect of observing the performance.

was caught in the act of

Implies a sense of surprise or secrecy in observing the action.

was noticed handling

Focuses on the way something was being handled.

was spotted completing

Focuses on the completion of an action.

was recognized doing

Highlights acknowledgement of the action.

was distinguished executing

A more formal alternative highlighting the skill or manner that action was executed.

FAQs

How can I use "was observed performing" in a sentence?

Use "was observed performing" to describe someone or something being watched while doing a specific task. For example: "The student was observed performing the experiment carefully".

What phrases are similar to "was observed performing"?

Alternatives include "was seen executing", "was noted carrying out", or "was witnessed undertaking" depending on the specific context.

Is "was observed performing" formal or informal?

"Was observed performing" is generally considered formal and is appropriate for academic, scientific, or professional writing. In casual conversation, simpler alternatives like "was seen doing" might be preferred.

What's the difference between "was observed performing" and "was seen performing"?

While both phrases indicate that someone was watched doing something, "was observed performing" often implies a more formal or official context than "was seen performing". "Observed" suggests a deliberate act of watching, often for a specific purpose.