was sorted by

USAGE SUMMARY

"was sorted by" is a valid and commonly used phrase in written English.
You can use it in a sentence to indicate that something has been organized or classified in a particular way. For example: "The mail was sorted by address before being delivered."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

49 human-written examples

Finally, the data was sorted by state to identify the priciest markets in each one.

The New York Times

Outward mail was sorted by military unit.

BBC

The document was sorted by income level with the highest income professions at the top of the list.

Huffington Post

As Thresher and Scorpion sank, debris spilled out from them across a wide area of the seabed and was sorted by the currents, so that light debris drifted furthest away from the site of the sinking.

Wikipedia

A table of r2 values and their respective inter-SNP distances was sorted by inter-SNP distance.

Plosone

The 305 experimental conditions were listed in Table S3 which was sorted by log Bayes ratio (larger values correspond to foreground).

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

11 human-written examples

Results are sorted by cost and availability.

The New York Times - Travel

Questions are sorted by their relative difficulty.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Fires are sorted by total area burned.

Carbon Balance and Management

(C) Inflammatory cells were sorted by FACS.

Protein & Cell

Classes are sorted by increasing frequency.

Journal of the Brazilian Computer Society

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was sorted by", ensure the sorting criterion is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For example, specify "The data was sorted by date" or "The books were sorted by genre".

Common error

Avoid using "was sorted by" without specifying the criteria. Saying "The list was sorted" is unclear; clarify with "The list was sorted alphabetically" or "The list was sorted by priority".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was sorted by" functions as a passive construction indicating how a subject has been arranged or classified. As shown in Ludwig, it is frequently used to describe data processing or categorization methods.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

78%

News & Media

16%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was sorted by" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed phrase, predominantly used in scientific and news-related contexts to denote the criteria used for arrangement or classification. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is suitable for formal and neutral registers, emphasizing the method of organization. While versatile, it’s important to clearly specify the sorting criteria to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives include "was classified according to", "was arranged by", and "was grouped by". When writing, be precise and avoid vagueness in your descriptions. This ensures clarity and enhances the effectiveness of your communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was classified according to

This alternative uses "classified" which implies a systematic categorization, similar to sorting but with a more formal connotation.

was arranged by

This alternative employs "arranged" suggesting a specific order or placement, similar to sorting but focuses more on the physical arrangement.

was grouped by

This alternative uses "grouped" which indicates items were placed together based on shared characteristics, much like sorting.

was categorized under

This alternative uses "categorized" implying a classification within a defined system of categories.

was organized based on

This alternative conveys a planned or structured arrangement, similar to sorting but emphasizes the planning aspect.

was divided by

This alternative means a separation into different parts or sections based on certain criteria.

was indexed by

This alternative implies creating an index or catalog based on specific parameters, which is a form of sorting for retrieval purposes.

was ordered by

This alternative indicates a sequence or ranking based on particular criteria.

was filed under

This alternative suggests placing items into specific files or categories for organization.

was distinguished by

This alternative uses the verb "distinguished" implying items or data were divided because of unique differences.

FAQs

How can I use "was sorted by" in a sentence?

Use "was sorted by" to indicate the method or criterion used to arrange items. For instance, "The documents "were sorted by" date", or "The clothes "were sorted by" color".

What are some alternatives to "was sorted by"?

Alternatives include "was classified according to", "was arranged by", or "was grouped by", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "sorted by"?

Using the passive voice with "was sorted by" is common when the actor performing the sorting is not the focus. If the actor is important, use the active voice: "The librarian sorted the books by genre" rather than "The books "were sorted by" the librarian".

What's the difference between "was sorted by" and "was organized by"?

"Was sorted by" generally implies arranging items according to a specific criterion or attribute. "Was organized by" is a broader term that can include arranging, planning, and structuring, and it might not always involve a specific, sortable attribute.