were found to be

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were found to be" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing the results of an experiment or investigation that has just been completed. For example: "The results of the experiment were found to be inconclusive."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

were found to be safe.

Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology

Damages were found to be $412,000.

Harvard University

The allegations were found to be unsubstantiated.

The New York Times

Three accounts were found to be unreliable.

The Guardian

Just 4% were found to be improving.

The Guardian

The methods were found to be robust.

Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis

The stockholders in Tangoe similarly were found to be uninformed.

Harvard University

The values were found to be similar to our Sun.

Harvard University

Half of the children were found to be food insecure.

Stanford University

No confounding variables were found to be statistically significant.

Yale University

All four were found to be free of anthrax spores.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "were found to be", ensure that the context clearly indicates who made the finding and the basis for the conclusion. This adds credibility and transparency to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "were found to be" in situations where the actor is unclear. If the source of the finding is ambiguous, rewrite the sentence to specify who made the determination to enhance clarity and impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were found to be" functions as a passive reporting verb phrase. It indicates that something has been discovered or determined to have a particular characteristic or state, as confirmed by Ludwig's examples and high frequency. It is often used to present findings from research or investigations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

32%

News & Media

37%

Academia

23%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were found to be" is a highly versatile passive construction used to report findings or discoveries. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability across various domains. It commonly appears in scientific, news, and academic writing, signaling a neutral to formal tone. When employing this phrase, clarity is key: ensure the context reveals who or what made the discovery. Consider alternative phrasings like "were determined to be" or "were identified as" to fine-tune your message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were determined to be

Emphasizes a formal or official decision-making process.

were discovered to be

Highlights the element of unexpected finding or revelation.

were identified as

Focuses on categorizing or classifying something after examination.

were proven to be

Suggests a confirmation of a fact through evidence or testing.

were revealed to be

Implies the uncovering of something previously hidden or unknown.

turned out to be

Indicates a final result or outcome that was not initially apparent.

were understood as

Focuses on interpretation or comprehension of a particular state or situation.

were established as

Emphasizes the setting up or creation of something in a formal way.

were recognized as

Highlights the acknowledgment or acceptance of something by a group or authority.

were deemed to be

Indicates a judgment or opinion made about something.

FAQs

How can I use "were found to be" in a sentence?

Use "were found to be" to report results or discoveries from research, investigations, or analyses. For instance, "The samples "were found to be reproducible"" indicates that testing confirmed the samples' consistency.

What are some alternatives to "were found to be"?

Depending on the context, alternatives include "were determined to be", "were discovered to be", or "were identified as". Choose the option that best fits the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "were found to be"?

While "were found to be" is passive, it's appropriate when the focus is on the object or result rather than the actor. However, using the active voice can sometimes make your writing more direct and engaging. For example, instead of "The documents "were found to be forged"", you could say "Investigators found that the documents were forged."

How does "were found to be" differ from "was found to be"?

"Were found to be" is used for plural subjects, while "was found to be" is used for singular subjects. For example, "The results "were found to be significant"" versus "The error "was found to be critical"."