was seen doing

USAGE SUMMARY

"was seen doing" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is typically used when describing a past action that was observed by someone else. Example: "She was seen doing cartwheels in the park yesterday." In this sentence, the verb phrase "was seen doing" indicates that someone witnessed the action of the subject (she) doing cartwheels in the park. Another example: "The suspect was seen fleeing the scene of the crime." Here, "was seen fleeing" shows that someone saw the suspect leaving the scene of the crime. Overall, "was seen doing" is a useful phrase for describing observed actions in the past tense.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

… Rasheed Wallace was seen doing a number of sprints up and down the court during practice.

The New York Times

He was seen doing his laundry, which included lace panties and other articles of women's clothing.

The New York Times

Prust, who was seen doing chin-ups after the game, said he passed a postgame baseline concussion test.

The New York Times - Sports

A man in a suit and a purple dress shirt was seen doing the backstroke toward the East 34th Street Heliport, and rescue divers were pulling another man in business clothes — possibly the pilot — ashore.

The New York Times

A few weeks ago, Liv Tyler was seen doing the twist in the company of Stella McCartney, Gwyneth Paltrow and David Duchovny (Leoni's husband), all accidentally making hanging around with kids and kids' musicians seem cool.

The New York Times - Magazine

California Highway Patrol officials told KPIX-TV a car was seen doing "doughnuts" in the street.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

You want to be seen doing it.

The New Yorker

Don't you be seen doing that!

The New Yorker

"It's something celebrities like to be seen doing.

The New York Times

To underscore that, a rider is seen doing a wheelie.

The New York Times

That is the last thing Mrs Merkel can be seen doing.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was seen doing" to describe actions that were directly observed by someone, providing a clear indication of the source of knowledge.

Common error

Avoid using "was seen doing" in situations where the action was inferred or assumed, rather than directly witnessed. Use alternative phrases like "was believed to be doing" or "was suspected of doing" to indicate uncertainty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was seen doing" functions as a passive construction followed by a gerund phrase. It describes an action that someone witnessed. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Wiki

17%

Science

11%

Less common in

Academia

7%

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was seen doing" is a grammatically sound and common phrase used to describe witnessed actions. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. The phrase is prevalent in News & Media, Wiki, and Science contexts, indicating broad applicability. While maintaining a neutral register, its purpose is to communicate an observed activity. For alternative phrasing, consider options like "was observed performing" or "was caught in the act of", and be mindful of tense consistency to avoid common writing errors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was observed performing

Formal alternative emphasizing the act of observing.

was noticed to be doing

Emphasizes the element of noticing the action.

was caught in the act of

Implies the action was illicit or surprising.

was spotted carrying out

Suggests a brief or chance observation of the action.

was found to be engaging in

Formal, often used when discovering someone's activity.

was witnessed undertaking

Formal and emphasizes the witnessing of an action.

happened to be doing

Focuses on the coincidental nature of the action.

was discovered in the process of

Highlights the discovery of an ongoing action.

was recorded executing

Suggests a formal record or observation of the action.

was unveiled performing

Implies a revelation or surprising discovery of an action.

FAQs

How do I use "was seen doing" in a sentence?

Use "was seen doing" to describe an action that someone witnessed. For example, "The suspect "was seen doing" the dishes before fleeing the scene" indicates someone observed the suspect doing the dishes.

What can I say instead of "was seen doing"?

You can use alternatives like "was observed performing", "was caught in the act of", or "was noticed to be doing" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "was seen to do" instead of "was seen doing"?

Both "was seen to do" and "was seen doing" can be grammatically correct, but they have slightly different nuances. "Was seen doing" emphasizes the continuous nature of the action, while "was seen to do" emphasizes the completion of the action. Choose the one that best fits the intended meaning.

What's the difference between "was seen doing" and "was reportedly doing"?

"Was seen doing" implies direct observation, whereas "was reportedly doing" indicates that the information comes from an unconfirmed report or second-hand account. The former is more reliable than the latter.