were not found

USAGE SUMMARY

"were not found" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when speaking about something that was searched for but wasn't located. Example: After an extensive search of the property, the missing items were not found.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Ghrelin cells were not found.

Acta Histochemica

*3 or *4 alleles were not found.

Nature

Diazinon and other pesticides were not found.

The New York Times

But the youths were not found.

The New York Times

Their three companions were not found.

The New York Times

Significant differences in BP were not found.

Research in Veterinary Science

Highly reliable tests were not found until mid-1992.

The New York Times

Many were not found until the damage had been done.

The New York Times

The drugs were not found on the school premises.

The Times

These structures were not found with a monoclonal antibody.

Nature

The cortisol differences were not found in the men studied.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "were not found", ensure the subject is plural. For a singular subject, use "was not found".

Common error

Avoid using "were not found" with singular subjects. The correct form for a singular subject is "was not found". Example: The key was not found.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were not found" functions as a passive construction, indicating that the subjects were the recipients of the action of finding. It is commonly used to report the outcome of a search or investigation, as shown in examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

68%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were not found" is a grammatically correct and commonly used passive construction to indicate that a search for something (plural) yielded no results. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. It is suitable for various contexts, including scientific, news, and formal writing. It's important to maintain subject-verb agreement by using "was not found" for singular subjects. Alternative phrases like "could not be located" or "remained undetected" can be used for variety. Remember always to verify that the subject is plural.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have not been found

Present perfect tense; emphasizes the continued absence.

could not be located

Emphasizes the inability to determine the position or whereabouts.

remained undetected

Highlights that something failed to be noticed or discovered.

proved elusive

Suggests that something was difficult to find or catch.

did not surface

Implies that something did not come to light or become apparent.

were absent

Directly states the lack of presence.

turned up empty

Indicates that a search yielded no results.

were unrecoverable

Suggests that something could not be retrieved or found again.

could not be traced

Emphasizes the inability to follow or discover the path of something.

were missing

States that something is not present or available.

FAQs

What is the difference between "was not found" and "were not found"?

"Was not found" is used with a singular subject, while "were not found" is used with plural subjects. For example, "The book was not found" versus "The books were not found".

What can I say instead of "were not found"?

You can use alternatives like "could not be located", "remained undetected", or "proved elusive" depending on the context.

How to use "were not found" in a sentence?

Use "were not found" to indicate that something plural could not be located. For example: "The missing files were not found on the server".

Is it correct to say "was not found" instead of "were not found"?

It depends on the subject. "Was not found" is for singular subjects, while "were not found" is for plural subjects. Always ensure subject-verb agreement.