was touched on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was touched on" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a particular topic or subject was briefly mentioned or discussed. Example: "During the meeting, the issue of budget constraints was touched on, but no detailed discussion followed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

And in the spirit of the evening, Debussy was touched on, at least obliquely, in the harmonic haziness in the work's final pages.

The New York Times - Arts

This point was touched on by an Italian businessman, speaking on condition of anonymity, who has worked and traveled extensively in Libya over the past 20 years.

The New York Times - Magazine

The nature of the breakdown was touched on in an unusually illuminating exchange between David Cameron and Ed Miliband at last week's prime minister's questions.

The Guardian - Opinion

The comparison was touched on just six months ago by Sir Alex Ferguson when he felt obliged to fine Rooney £200,000, drop him from a Premier League match and then yank him from the next one with body language cold enough to register freezing point.

Independent

Brown opened the scoring, tapping in an Eliot Richards cross that was touched on by McGleish.

BBC

His cross was touched on by Silva and Aguero arrived to score.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

Money laundering is touched on but not explored.

The Guardian - Books

Much of this is touched on in The  Bedside Guardian.

The Guardian - Books

These difficulties are part of the migrant story and are touched on in the film.

The New York Times - Arts

Even the tenor of the texts is touched on in the contract.

The New York Times

All are touched on, but barely; this is a sanitized view of a harsh reality.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was touched on" when you want to indicate that a topic was mentioned but not thoroughly explored. This phrase is suitable for signaling that more detail might be needed elsewhere.

Common error

Avoid relying too heavily on "was touched on" in close proximity within your writing. Vary your language by using alternatives such as "was briefly mentioned" or "was alluded to" for better readability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was touched on" functions as a passive reporting verb, indicating that a subject or topic received a brief or cursory mention. Ludwig examples show its usage in news, scientific articles and general contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

41%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was touched on" is a useful and commonly encountered expression in English for denoting that a subject received a brief mention without extensive elaboration. According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically sound and sees frequent application across diverse contexts, particularly within news and scientific media. When using "was touched on", remember that its strength lies in signaling brevity and that alternative phrases exist for occasions requiring more specificity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was briefly mentioned

Focuses on the act of mentioning something quickly.

was alluded to

Suggests an indirect reference rather than a direct discussion.

was hinted at

Implies a subtle or indirect suggestion of a topic.

was referred to

Indicates a mention or reference to something without extensive discussion.

was addressed briefly

Highlights the act of dealing with a topic in a short amount of time.

was lightly covered

Emphasizes the superficial nature of the treatment.

was grazed over

Suggests a quick and almost dismissive treatment.

was skirted around

Implies avoiding a direct or thorough discussion.

was superficially examined

Highlights the lack of depth in the analysis.

received a cursory examination

Formal way to describe something that didn't take long.

FAQs

How can I use "was touched on" in a sentence?

You can use "was touched on" to indicate that a topic was briefly mentioned but not discussed in detail. For example, "During the presentation, the issue of funding "was touched on", but there wasn't time for a full discussion."

What can I say instead of "was touched on"?

You can use alternatives like "was briefly mentioned", "was alluded to", or "was lightly covered" depending on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "was touched on" in formal writing?

Yes, "was touched on" is generally acceptable in formal writing. However, consider the specific context and audience. Alternatives like "was referred to" or "was addressed briefly" might be more suitable for highly formal situations.

What's the difference between "was touched on" and "was discussed"?

"Was discussed" implies a more thorough examination of a topic, while "was touched on" suggests that the topic was only mentioned briefly. If the topic received a more in-depth treatment, "was discussed" would be the more accurate choice.