were detected

USAGE SUMMARY

"were detected" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is often used when describing something that has been found or discovered. Here are a few examples: - The presence of bacteria was detected in the water supply. - Suspicious activity was detected by the security cameras. - The error in the code was detected during testing. - Changes in brain activity were detected during the experiment. - The stolen goods were detected at the border crossing. In these sentences, "were detected" conveys the meaning that something was found or discovered through some means of detection or observation.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Additional cases were detected.

The New York Times - Health

Eight were detected.

The New York Times

No side effects were detected.

The New York Times - Health

Toxins were detected in his blood stream.

The New York Times - Magazine

No structural deficiencies were detected, he said.

The New York Times

Silicon, sodium and sulfur were detected.

The New York Times - Science

No problems were detected, he said.

The New York Times

Such problems were detected by F.D.A inspections.

The New York Times

Geoneutrinos were detected for the first time.

Encyclopedia Britannica

… Several leaks were detected.

Science Magazine

No contaminant were detected.

Biomaterials

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were detected" in passive voice constructions when you want to emphasize the object or result of the detection, rather than the actor doing the detecting.

Common error

Avoid using "were detected" in active voice constructions; it is a passive construction. For example, instead of "The sensors were detected the anomaly", use "The anomaly was detected by the sensors" or, in active voice, "The sensors detected the anomaly."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were detected" functions as a passive verb phrase. It indicates that a subject has been discovered or noticed by some means. As Ludwig AI highlights, it's commonly used in various contexts to describe the finding of something.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

69%

News & Media

25%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "were detected" is a grammatically sound and frequently used passive construction that indicates the discovery or identification of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is common in both scientific and news contexts. This construction is most appropriate when the focus is on what was found rather than who found it. Alternatives such as "were discovered" or "were identified" can be used to add nuance to the meaning. When writing, it is important to use "were detected" in passive voice and to ensure subject-verb agreement. The frequent usage of this phrase makes it a valuable tool in formal and scientific writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were discovered

Emphasizes the act of finding something, often unexpectedly or after a search.

were identified

Highlights the act of recognizing or establishing the identity of something.

were found

A more general term indicating that something was located or came to light.

were noticed

Focuses on the act of becoming aware of something through observation.

were observed

Implies a more formal or scientific observation of something.

were ascertained

Suggests that something was determined or confirmed after investigation.

were revealed

Indicates that something previously hidden became known.

were uncovered

Similar to "were revealed", but often implies a more thorough or investigative process.

were unearthed

Suggests finding something that was buried or hidden for a long time.

were pinpointed

Emphasizes the precise location or identification of something.

FAQs

How to use "were detected" in a sentence?

Use "were detected" to indicate that something was found or noticed. For example, "No errors were detected during the system check" or "Anomalies were detected in the data analysis".

What can I say instead of "were detected"?

You can use alternatives like "were discovered", "were identified", or "were found" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "was detected" instead of "were detected"?

The choice between "was detected" and "were detected" depends on whether the subject is singular or plural. Use "was detected" for singular subjects (e.g., "The error was detected"), and "were detected" for plural subjects (e.g., "The errors were detected").

What's the difference between "were detected" and "were identified"?

"Were detected" generally means something was noticed or found, while "were identified" means something was recognized or its nature was determined. For example, "Anomalies were detected" suggests the presence of something unusual, whereas "The anomalies were identified as system errors" specifies what the anomalies are.