what was identified

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "what was identified" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to something that has been recognized or determined in a previous context or discussion. Example: "In the report, what was identified as the main issue was the lack of communication among team members."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

At the same site in 1991, paleontologists found a jawbone of what was identified as a Homo erectus.

The New York Times

They persuaded Gair and Higginson to adopt the new system for what was identified as Gair Building No. 3, at John and Gold Streets.

The New York Times

The course Speaking and Listening in a Health-Care Setting was developed to respond to what was identified as students' area of greatest difficulty: communicating with clients and colleagues in the clinical setting.

English for Specific Purposes

Major Holloway did say that "coalition air power," meaning American or British jets, dropped two more precision-guided bombs just after noon on Saturday on what was identified as "an enemy stronghold" in Basra.

The New York Times

The show which they called "Non-Coöperative Approach" in Chinese, and "Fuck Off" in English was calibrated for maximum antagonism: the most controversial piece was a photograph of the artist Zhu Yu eating what was identified as a dead baby.

The New Yorker

But according to David G. Transom, who managed it for many years, Lefcourt soon defaulted on his sublease, and the Brill Brothers took over the corner store in what was identified as the Brill Building as early as April 1932.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

Finally, it provides a sketch of how mutual engagements across the fields might be intensified in what is identified as an emerging accounting and finance track in the discourse of social science.

Accounting, Organizations and Society

The aging, priapic analyst lives with his wife, Akiko, in the suburbs of what is identified only as a "big city".

The New York Times - Books

The student identifies features and the teacher guides by focusing attention, and affirming or rejecting what is identified.

Functional Linguistics

Consistent with action research's best practice, what is identified as both "problem" and "solution" can be reformulated iteratively over the lifetime of the project.

BMC Health Services Research

What is Identify a Variable?

Stanford University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "what was identified", ensure the context clearly indicates who or what made the identification. Providing this clarity enhances the sentence's precision and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "what was identified" without a clear reference to the source of the identification. For example, instead of "What was identified was a problem", specify "The problem that the committee identified was…"

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what was identified" functions as a nominal clause, acting as a subject or object within a sentence. It refers to something that has been recognized or determined. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase adheres to standard English grammar.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

32%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Academia

9%

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "what was identified" is a versatile and grammatically sound construct for referring to previously recognized information. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread use. It serves to connect new information to existing context and is found across different writing styles – from formal academic papers to news reports. Remember to ensure a clear antecedent for the identification to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives like "what was determined" or "what became clear" can add nuance, but the core meaning remains consistent.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what got identified

Replaces "was" with "got", slightly more informal.

what became clear

Focuses on the clarification or realization of something.

what was determined

Emphasizes the process of reaching a conclusion.

what was recognized

Highlights the act of acknowledging something.

what was pinpointed

Suggests a more precise identification.

what was established

Focuses on proving something to be true.

what they identified

Adds a subject, indicating who did the identifying.

the thing identified

Uses a more nominal structure.

the aspects identified

Specifies 'aspects', suggesting multiple items were recognized.

the items identified

More specific than 'what', implying a list or group.

FAQs

How can I use "what was identified" in a sentence?

You can use "what was identified" to refer to something that has been recognized or determined, as in "What was identified as the main issue was the lack of resources."

What are some alternatives to "what was identified"?

Some alternatives include phrases like "what was determined", "what was recognized", or "what became clear", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to use "what was identified" in formal writing?

Yes, "what was identified" is appropriate for formal writing. It's a grammatically sound and widely accepted phrase, as demonstrated by its use in news articles and academic papers.

What is the difference between "what was identified" and "the thing identified"?

"What was identified" refers to something generally, while "the thing identified" is more specific and nominal, pointing to a particular item or concept.