were discovered to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were discovered to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that something was found out or revealed about a subject in the past. Example: "The ancient ruins were discovered to contain artifacts that date back thousands of years."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They were discovered to be alive on Sunday, and rescuers managed to communicate with them.

The New York Times

("Whites routinely lost work in Chicago if they were discovered to have black spouses or children").

The New York Times - Books

Enough traces of each were discovered to make it fairly certain that none had exploded.

The New Yorker

Dozens of planes were discovered to be inappropriately maintained at American, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines.

Independent

In 1898 some of the army's most persuasive documents against Dreyfus were discovered to be forgeries.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Eventually enough skeletal remains were discovered to show that these animals were neither crocodiles nor aquatic.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The job projections were discovered to be highly inflated; State Department estimates barely break 5,000.

The New York Times

Eventually, the reproducibility problems were discovered to be related to the way the compounds were packed and transported.

The New York Times - Books

After several early nominees were discovered to have failed to pay some taxes, the White House tightened its vetting.

The New York Times

He said the pupils had been checked on at night and were discovered to be missing in the morning.

The Guardian

DURING the euro crisis struggling Mediterranean economies were discovered to have been living far beyond their means.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were discovered to" when you want to emphasize a passive voice construction, highlighting the object of the discovery rather than the discoverer.

Common error

Avoid rewriting sentences using the active voice when the passive voice is more appropriate. For example, instead of "Scientists discovered that..." consider whether "It were discovered to..." better suits the context, especially when the focus is on the discovery itself.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were discovered to" functions as a passive construction indicating that something was found out or revealed about a subject. As noted by Ludwig, this phrase is usable in written English across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

35%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

9%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were discovered to" is a grammatically sound and frequently used passive construction that serves to highlight new findings or revelations. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's versatile and appropriate for various writing contexts, particularly within science, news, and encyclopedic sources. When using the phrase, consider its slightly more formal tone compared to alternatives like "were found to". Remember to utilize the passive voice effectively, focusing on the object of discovery rather than the discoverer, and avoid unnecessary active voice rewrites.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were found to

Replaces "discovered" with "found", a more common and slightly less formal synonym.

were revealed to

Emphasizes the act of uncovering or making something known.

were shown to

Indicates something was demonstrated or proven to be true.

were determined to

Suggests a process of investigation or analysis led to the finding.

were identified to

Focuses on the act of recognizing or naming something specific.

were ascertained to

Implies a careful and thorough investigation to establish the truth.

were learned to

Highlights the acquisition of knowledge about something.

were noticed to

Indicates something was observed or detected.

were understood to

Focuses on gaining comprehension or insight about something.

came to light

Idiomatic expression meaning something became known or public.

FAQs

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

The phrase "were discovered to" is used to indicate something that was previously unknown has been found or revealed. For example, "The ancient ruins "were discovered to" contain artifacts dating back thousands of years."

What are some alternatives to "were discovered to"?

You can use alternatives such as "were found to", "were revealed to", or "were shown to" depending on the specific context and nuance you wish to convey.

Is "were discovered to be" grammatically correct?

Yes, the phrase "were discovered to be" is grammatically correct. It's often followed by an adjective or noun phrase that describes the state or nature of the subject. For example, "The documents "were discovered to" be forgeries."

What's the difference between "were discovered to" and "were found to"?

While both phrases are similar, ""were discovered to"" often implies a more significant or surprising finding than "were found to". "Were found to" is a more general term for locating something, while "were discovered to" suggests uncovering something previously unknown or hidden.