were discovered for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were discovered for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating the purpose or reason for which something was discovered. Example: "The ancient artifacts were discovered for the purpose of understanding the civilization's culture."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Multiple fascinating, but nonobvious designs were discovered for this application.

Computers & Chemical Engineering

Last year we saw a breakthrough: entirely new antibiotics were discovered for the first time in almost thirty years.

The Guardian

In addition, important design constraints were discovered for the successful operation of the proposed moving bed granular filter.

Powder Technology

Some very unusual crystalline morphologies were discovered for the compatible PTHF-b-PMMA/PTHF blends resulting from the effect of PMMA microdomains in the blends.

Polymer

The Amazon rainforest had always had an abundance of rubber trees, but it was only during the late 19th century that practical uses were discovered for the plant.

The Guardian

Different fracture modes were discovered for HGM filled polymers under low and high strain rate loadings by using Computed Tomography (CT) scan and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM).

Composites Part B: Engineering

In addition, inhibition of EGFR and PDGFR-β were discovered for saturated C9-homologated analogs 9 and 10 that were absent in the saturated C9-methyl analogs.

Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry

Finally, the quantitative data from 33 batches of CR samples were comparatively analyzed, and the ratios of JAT/COL and EPI/JAT were discovered for species classification.

Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis

A man was charged with stealing about $250,000 in sheet music, books and electronics from an upstate warehouse after the missing items were discovered for sale on the eBay auction site, the police said.

The New York Times

DNA sequencing revealed 11 SNPs within a 459 base pair (bp) region of tyr that differed between albino and wild-type axolotls (Supplementary Fig. S3); no diagnostic SNPs were discovered for oca2.

Nature

Several skulls were discovered for Indohyus (Fig. 6) and these are important in determining how it is related to other mammals.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "were discovered for", ensure the sentence clearly indicates both what was discovered and the specific purpose or reason for the discovery. For example, "New antibiotics were discovered for combating drug-resistant bacteria."

Common error

Avoid using "were discovered for" in sentences where the active voice would be more direct and clear. For example, instead of "The error were discovered for improved accuracy", write "The team discovered the error to improve accuracy."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were discovered for" functions as a passive construction, linking a subject to the purpose or reason behind its discovery. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is a grammatically sound and commonly used construction. Examples show it frequently occurs in scientific and news contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

78%

News & Media

18%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were discovered for" is a grammatically correct and widely used passive construction, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It serves to link a discovery with its specific purpose or intended use. Predominantly found in scientific and news-related contexts, its register leans towards neutral to formal, indicating objectivity. When using "were discovered for", ensure clarity by explicitly stating both the discovery and its intended purpose. Consider whether an active voice might offer a more direct and impactful alternative. Remember this, as "were discovered for" can emphasize the goal of the finding.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were found for

Replaces "discovered" with "found", implying a less formal or intentional uncovering.

were identified for

Emphasizes the act of recognizing or distinguishing something for a specific reason.

were uncovered for

Suggests a deliberate act of revealing something previously hidden, sharing a similar sense with "discovered".

were revealed for

Focuses on making something known or visible for a particular purpose.

were ascertained for

Implies a more formal and careful determination of something's purpose.

were detected for

Highlights the act of noticing or sensing something for a specific reason.

were designated for

Shifts focus to an official assignment or intended use upon discovery.

were unearthed for

Conveys a sense of digging up or uncovering something from the past for a particular reason.

were exposed for

Suggests that something, often negative, was brought to light for a specific purpose.

were innovated for

Highlights the reason behind a creative output which can sometimes be used in the context of discovery.

FAQs

What does "were discovered for" mean?

The phrase "were discovered for" indicates that something was found or revealed to serve a particular purpose or reason. It emphasizes the intent or consequence of the discovery.

How can I use "were discovered for" in a sentence?

Use "were discovered for" to link a discovery with its intended use or purpose. For example, "New design constraints were discovered for improving filter operation efficiency."

What can I say instead of "were discovered for"?

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

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "were discovered for"?

While "were discovered for" uses passive voice, consider whether an active voice construction would be clearer and more direct. For example, instead of saying "New properties were discovered for this material", you could say "Scientists discovered new properties of this material."