was retained for

USAGE SUMMARY

"was retained for" is correct and usable in written English.
For example: "The evidence was retained for future use."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Only one best hit was retained for each query sequence.

Nature

In less than three minutes, that preliminary test came up negative; the swab was retained for further testing.

The New York Times

Only the best alignment with the highest score was retained for each mapped gene locus for each species.

Nature

The original text was retained for reference.

Journal of Cheminformatics

Study group allocation was retained for the entire ICU stay.

Annals of Intensive Care

The pellet was retained for a further flotation trial.

International Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture

Instead, the increased spatial clustering associated with defaunation was retained for juvenile recruits.

Duke University

The residue after MCW extraction was retained for the determination of root protein content.

Botanical Studies

To evaluate sample integrity, 10% of the total was retained for immunoblots.

Biophysics Reports

Experiments showed that the enzyme activity was retained for 12 h in the pH range studied.

AMB Express

But the grid was retained for the restart, with the race cut to 12 laps.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was retained for" when you want to emphasize the conscious decision to keep something available for a specific future use or purpose.

Common error

While "was retained for" is grammatically correct, overuse of passive voice can make writing sound weak. Consider active voice alternatives like "they retained the sample" when appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was retained for" functions as a passive construction indicating that something was kept or preserved for a particular purpose or future use. As Ludwig AI suggests, the phrase is grammatically correct and is common across various disciplines.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

63%

Wiki

15%

News & Media

7%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was retained for" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to indicate that something was deliberately kept for a specific reason. As Ludwig AI confirms, its primary function is to show that an item has been deliberately kept available for a specific reason and it most frequently appears in scientific contexts. While it’s a correct expression, be mindful of overusing passive voice in your writing. Consider active voice alternatives when appropriate to maintain a clear and engaging style.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was kept for

Replaces "retained" with a more common synonym, reducing formality slightly.

was preserved for

Emphasizes the act of protecting something for future use.

was maintained for

Highlights the ongoing effort to keep something in a specific condition.

was saved for

Suggests setting something aside for a particular reason.

was held for

Implies temporary keeping or possession.

was reserved for

Indicates something was specifically set aside and not available for general use.

was earmarked for

Suggests funds or resources were specifically allocated.

was designated for

Implies an official assignment to a specific purpose.

was conserved for

Emphasizes careful or economical preservation.

was stored for

Focuses on the act of placing something in safekeeping until needed.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "was retained for" to sound more active?

Consider using an active voice construction such as "The researchers retained the sample for analysis" or "The company kept the records for audit purposes" instead of "The sample "was retained for" analysis".

What's the difference between "was retained for" and "was preserved for"?

"Was preserved for" emphasizes protecting something from damage or decay, while ""was retained for"" simply means it was kept for a specific reason. Preservation implies a need for careful handling.

In what contexts is it appropriate to use "was retained for"?

It's appropriate in formal writing, scientific reports, legal documents, and any situation where a record of continued possession or availability is important. However, in informal conversation, simpler terms like "kept" might suffice.

What are some synonyms for "was retained for" that avoid passive voice?

Instead of ""was retained for"", you could use "held onto", "kept", "maintained", or "preserved", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.