were not obtained

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were not obtained" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you are indicating that certain results, data, or items were not acquired or received. Example: "The necessary approvals were not obtained before the project commenced."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Investigate whether those standards are being met, rather than relying on regulation alone – as seen in the Bangladesh tragedy where certain obligatory workplace permits were not obtained.

The Guardian

The only other alternative was for the Jordanian prosecutor to prove "to a high standard that the statements were not obtained by torture".

The Guardian

bracteata samples were not obtained from Taiwan.

Botanical Studies

However, symmetrical peaks were not obtained.

Chemistry Central Journal

So far, the investigation has revealed that card numbers may have been stolen, but that cardholder names, addresses and social security numbers were not obtained by the criminals.

TechCrunch

However, anthracycline-like naphtho-condensed 5-hydroxyindoles were not obtained from this diquinone.

Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry

However, those levels were not obtained using xylose as a carbon source.

AMB Express

Due to the nature of the GCM approach, detailed descriptions from subjects were not obtained.

Journal of Patient-Reported Outcomes

Therefore, the expected results were not obtained even after optimization of the process conditions.

International Journal of Industrial Chemistry

Equivalent OH/H2O for melt were not obtained for reasons discussed above.

Progress in Earth and Planetary Science

The specific formulations or manufacturer of the dietary supplements were not obtained.

International Journal of Bipolar Disorders

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were not obtained" in passive voice constructions to objectively state that something was not acquired, received, or achieved. This is particularly useful in formal reports and scientific writing.

Common error

Avoid using "was not obtained" when referring to multiple items or a plural subject. Ensure that the verb "were" agrees with the plural subject.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were not obtained" functions as a passive construction indicating that a particular thing or set of things was not successfully acquired or received. Ludwig AI shows numerous examples across various fields, underscoring its widespread applicability in expressing a lack of attainment.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

68%

News & Media

15%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were not obtained" is a grammatically correct and common passive construction used to indicate that something was not acquired, received, or achieved. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's most frequently found in scientific and technical writing, with a neutral to formal tone. When using this phrase, ensure subject-verb agreement and consider alternatives like ""were not acquired"" or ""were not received"" for stylistic variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were not acquired

Replaces "obtained" with "acquired", emphasizing the act of gaining possession.

were not received

Substitutes "obtained" with "received", focusing on the act of getting something.

were not secured

Replaces "obtained" with "secured", stressing the effort to get something.

were not attained

Substitutes "obtained" with "attained", focusing on the achievement of getting something after effort.

were not procured

Replaces "obtained" with "procured", highlighting the act of acquiring something, often with effort or formality.

were not accessed

Substitutes "obtained" with "accessed", indicating inability to gain entry or access to something.

were not derived

Replaces "obtained" with "derived", focusing on obtaining something from a source.

were not gathered

Substitutes "obtained" with "gathered", stressing the collection of information or items.

were not collected

Replaces "obtained" with "collected", emphasizing the process of accumulating something.

were not achieved

Substitutes "obtained" with "achieved", focusing on the successful accomplishment of acquiring something.

FAQs

How can I use "were not obtained" in a sentence?

The phrase "were not obtained" is used to indicate that something was not acquired or received. For example, "The necessary permits "were not obtained" before construction began."

What are some alternatives to "were not obtained"?

Alternatives include "were not acquired", "were not received", or "were not secured", depending on the specific context.

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

The correctness depends on the subject. Use "was not obtained" with singular subjects (e.g., "The result was not obtained") and "were not obtained" with plural subjects (e.g., "The results "were not obtained"").

What does "were not obtained" imply in a research context?

In research, "were not obtained" often indicates that certain data, samples, or results could not be acquired or were missing from the study. This might affect the study's conclusions or require further investigation.