what has been lost

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "what has been lost" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing something that was once possessed or experienced but is no longer available or present. Example: "In the wake of the disaster, the community mourned what has been lost, including homes, businesses, and cherished memories."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

What has been lost?

The New York Times

"I know what has been lost.

The New York Times

We need to recover what has been lost.

Independent

We just don't know what has been lost yet".

Independent

It is also the vastness of what has been lost.

The New York Times

What has been lost isn't just the oysters themselves.

The New York Times

It's time to repair what has been lost.

The New York Times

And this, ultimately, is how she preserves or resurrects part of what has been lost.

The New Yorker

All the information about what has been lost inside them is encoded on their surfaces.

The New York Times - Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

"We're trying to replace what has been lost.

The Guardian

We hope Mr. Steel can begin to rebuild what has been lost.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Employ "what has been lost" when you wish to highlight the contrast between a previous state and the current one, emphasizing the element of deprivation or diminishment.

Common error

Avoid using "what was lost" when referring to an ongoing or continuous sense of loss. "What has been lost" implies a present relevance or impact of the loss, whereas "what was lost" refers to a completed event in the past with no current relevance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what has been lost" functions as a noun clause, often acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It identifies and refers to something that is no longer present or available. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

18%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "what has been lost" is a grammatically sound phrase widely used to express a sense of loss or regret, particularly in News & Media and academic contexts. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct. It functions as a noun clause and is suitable for various registers, though more common in neutral contexts. While alternatives like "what is irretrievable" or "what is forfeited" may be appropriate in certain situations, the key is to consider the specific nuance you wish to convey and the ongoing impact of the loss.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what is now gone

States simply that something is no longer present.

the thing that is gone

Refers in a more specific way to something that is not present anymore.

what is irretrievable

Focuses on the impossibility of recovering something.

what is irrecoverable

Highlights the inability to regain something that was lost.

what is forfeited

Emphasizes the loss as a consequence of an action or event.

what has disappeared

Emphasizes the disappearance of something.

what has vanished

Emphasizes the disappearance of something.

the disappeared things

Refers in a more specific way to the things that are not present anymore.

the vanished things

Refers to the lost things in a more poetic manner.

what we have misplaced

Refers to a missing thing due to an involuntary action.

FAQs

How can I use "what has been lost" in a sentence?

You can use "what has been lost" to refer to something no longer possessed or experienced. For example, "The community mourns "what has been lost", including traditions and cultural heritage."

What's a formal alternative to "what has been lost"?

In formal contexts, you might consider using "what is irretrievable" or "what is forfeited" to convey a similar meaning with a more sophisticated tone.

How does "what has been lost" differ from "what was lost"?

"What has been lost" implies an ongoing impact or present relevance, while "what was lost" refers to a completed event in the past with no current effect.

What can I use instead of "what has been lost" to emphasize the disappearance of something?

If you want to highlight the vanishing of something, consider using "what has vanished" or "the vanished things".