was selected at random

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was selected at random" is a perfectly valid phrase to use in written English.
You can use this phrase any time you need to indicate that something was chosen at random, without prior preference or bias. For example: "The 500 participants for the study were selected at random from a list of eligible individuals."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Only one person from each household was selected at random using a Kish selection table (13).

Diabetes Care

She had six Facebook friends in common with Evens but believes she was selected at random.

The Guardian

Though the judge was selected at random, some of his decisions in big bankruptcies suggest the government's arguments may find a sympathetic ear.

The New York Times

In those with more than one plot, only one was selected at random for retention.

Carbon Balance and Management

A single conformer was selected at random for each compound to perform the benchmark speed comparison.

Chemistry Central Journal

The choice of angular position of elements was selected at random.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Sean was selected at random from the pool of folks who sent in the secret passphrase we announced during the show.

TechCrunch

Given n, one antichain A k in { 0, 1 } r was selected at random and independently for each variable.

Advances in Difference Equations

The target location within the image was selected at random but was at least 0.55° from the vertical midline so that the side could be readily judged.

Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications

One of each was selected at random to become the International prototype metre and International prototype kilogram that replaced the mètre des Archives and kilogramme des Archives respectively.

Wikipedia

For focal observations one individual bird was selected at random.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To improve clarity, specify the population or group from which the selection was made (e.g., "One participant was selected at random from all eligible volunteers.").

Common error

Avoid using "was selected at random" if the selection process wasn't truly random. If there were biases or specific criteria involved, use more accurate language to describe the selection method.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was selected at random" functions as a passive voice construction indicating an action (selection) performed on a subject (the entity being selected) without bias. Ludwig examples confirm this usage across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

73%

News & Media

15%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was selected at random" is a grammatically sound and widely used expression that signifies an unbiased selection process. As shown by Ludwig's extensive collection of examples, it's commonly found in scientific and formal contexts to emphasize objectivity. The phrase enjoys a high expert rating due to its correct grammar, authoritative sources, and consistent usage. Ludwig AI confirms the validity of this phrase in English writing, recommending it for scenarios needing to convey impartiality and methodological rigor.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was chosen randomly

Replaces "selected at random" with "chosen randomly", maintaining the exact meaning.

was randomly picked

Substitutes "selected" with "picked", offering a more informal tone while retaining the core meaning.

was chosen by chance

Replaces "selected at random" with "chosen by chance", emphasizing the element of chance involved.

was determined randomly

Uses "determined" instead of "selected", implying a more formal or structured process of randomization.

was drawn randomly

Employs "drawn" suggesting a lottery or drawing method of random selection.

was designated randomly

Replaces "selected" with "designated", implying a formal assignment without bias.

was appointed randomly

Replaces "selected" with "appointed", suggesting a formal selection process where the choice is unbiased.

selection was random

Changes the sentence structure to emphasize the randomness of the selection process.

the choice was random

Shifts the focus to the randomness of the choice itself, rather than the act of selection.

randomly assigned

Focuses on the assignment aspect being random, suitable when something is being assigned to a group.

FAQs

How can I use "was selected at random" in a sentence?

Use "was selected at random" to indicate an unbiased choice, such as in research: "The control group "was selected at random" from the participant pool."

What does "was selected at random" mean?

It means that the selection process was unbiased, and each member of the group had an equal chance of being chosen. It emphasizes the absence of any predetermined criteria or preference in the selection.

What are some alternatives to "was selected at random"?

You can use phrases like "was chosen randomly", "was randomly picked", or "was chosen by chance" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it appropriate to use "was selected at random" in formal writing?

Yes, "was selected at random" is appropriate for formal writing, especially in scientific, academic, and research contexts, as it clearly communicates the methodology's objectivity.