was selected against

USAGE SUMMARY

"was selected against" is a correct phrase and can be used in written English.
It generally means that something or someone was not chosen or selected due to certain criteria or disadvantages. For example: - The candidate's lack of experience was selected against in the final hiring decision. - The smaller, weaker birds were selected against by natural selection in the harsh environment. - The outdated technology was selected against in the company's decision to upgrade their systems.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

Larger size was selected against in several of our selection trials.

Evolutionary Applications

But after the playmaker returned last summer, Makelele succumbed, and then Thuram was selected against his will and reluctantly followed them.

Independent

Mr. Levy was selected against Mayor Giuliani's will, and on his first day on the job last Wednesday, he angered the mayor by advocating $10,000 raises for teachers, even though he said he would tie the increases to givebacks in the contract.

The New York Times

LBA4404-MDR containing plasmid pCAMBIA 2301 was selected against antibiotics rifampicin (25 mg/l) and kanamycin (50 mg/l).

Nanoscale Research Letters

The DH5α-multidrug-resistant (MDR) strain (containing plasmids pUC19 and pZPY112) was selected against antibiotics ampicillin (100 μg/ml) and chloramphenicol (35 μg/ml).

Nanoscale Research Letters

Moreover, if the retina in particular was selected against, we might expect to see many examples of eyed cave fish with no retinas.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

When individuals with intermediate phenotypes are favoured and extreme phenotypes are selected against, the selection is said to be stabilizing.

Encyclopedia Britannica

During summer, PLD-based selection reversed and individuals with shorter PLDs were selected against (Table 4, Fig. 5).

Plosone

To make matters worse, two of the best open-side flankers have been selected against him.

Independent

"I found out on radio that I would not be selected against France in February," Riquelme said on television.

The New York Times

If the newly introduced genes convey a survival advantage in the wild they will spread; if not, they will be selected against and become extremely rare or disappear.

The New York Times - Food

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was selected against" to clearly indicate that something or someone was deliberately not chosen due to specific reasons or criteria. This passive construction emphasizes the entity not selected rather than the selector.

Common error

Avoid using "was selected against" when you simply mean something was not chosen due to neutrality or lack of relevance. This phrase implies an active decision against something, not just a non-selection.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was selected against" functions as a passive construction indicating that a subject was not chosen or favored in a selection process. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread usage across different contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

67%

News & Media

22%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was selected against" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase, particularly within scientific and news contexts, to denote that something was deliberately not chosen. As Ludwig AI points out, it's crucial to use this phrase when a conscious decision was made against a subject, rather than simply implying non-selection. Related phrases such as "was rejected" and "was not chosen" can be used as alternatives depending on the desired nuance. By understanding its correct usage and potential pitfalls, you can effectively incorporate "was selected against" into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was rejected

This alternative is a more direct synonym, implying a clear decision against something.

was not chosen

This option provides a simpler and more explicit way of expressing the lack of selection.

was eliminated

This suggests an active removal from consideration, similar to "ruled out".

was ruled out

This suggests a more formal or decisive process of elimination.

was deemed unsuitable

This implies that something was considered and found lacking the necessary qualities.

was disfavored

This alternative emphasizes a preference against something, making it less appealing.

was superseded

This suggests that something was replaced by a better alternative.

was passed over

This indicates that something was ignored or not considered during a selection process.

failed to be selected

This phrasing uses a more verbose construction to convey the same meaning.

was not preferred

This highlights a lack of preference, implying other options were favored.

FAQs

How can I use "was selected against" in a sentence?

Use "was selected against" to indicate that something was deliberately not chosen due to specific criteria. For example, "The candidate's application "was selected against" because of insufficient experience."

What's the difference between "was selected against" and "was rejected"?

"Was selected against" implies a decision made in comparison to other options, while "was rejected" suggests a straightforward refusal without necessarily involving alternatives. The former is often used in scenarios where multiple options are considered.

What are some alternatives to "was selected against"?

Alternatives include "was rejected", "was not chosen", or "was deemed unsuitable", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "was selected against"?

The phrase itself is in the passive voice. While you can rephrase it to active voice (e.g., "They selected against the proposal"), the passive voice is often preferred to emphasize the entity that was not chosen.