withheld information

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "withheld information" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to information that has been intentionally kept back or not disclosed. Example: "The investigation revealed that the company had withheld information about the safety of its products."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Like her 2016 film,  The Invitation, Kusama uses enclosed spaces and withheld information to let us imagine the outside world and events that inform her characters' unsettling reality.

Vice

He, too, withheld information.

The New York Times

I'm really upset that administrators withheld information.

The New York Times

Artfully withheld information can be a way of heightening suspense.

The Guardian

Juliana withheld information from Ramona for the same reason.

The New Yorker

Neither side in such cases can rely on the withheld information.

The Guardian

Chilcot agrees; Blair withheld information from the cabinet, misled parliament, the public, and the military.

The Guardian - Opinion

She alleged that asylum seekers withheld information from these reports because they feared retribution.

The Guardian

It leaves open the question of whether the contractors withheld information.

The New York Times

The suit contends that the tobacco companies withheld information about the dangers of smoking.

The New York Times

This prisoner had failed, but only because the state had withheld information.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing legal or ethical breaches, use "withheld information" to highlight the deliberate nature of the non-disclosure.

Common error

Avoid using "withheld information" when the information was simply not known or available, rather than actively suppressed. Instead, clarify whether the lack of information was intentional or unintentional.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "withheld information" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the object of a verb. Ludwig confirms its correct and usable nature in written English. Examples show it describing the act of concealing facts or data.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "withheld information" is a grammatically sound and frequently used term, as Ludwig AI confirms. It describes the intentional act of keeping information secret, often in contexts involving legal, ethical, or professional implications. The phrase is most commonly found in News & Media sources. When using this phrase, be mindful of the potential negative connotations associated with the act of withholding information, ensuring accurate and appropriate usage. Alternatives like "undisclosed details", "concealed facts", and "suppressed data" offer subtle variations in meaning to fit specific contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

concealed facts

Emphasizes that the information was intentionally hidden.

covered-up information

Emphasizes an attempt to hide the information after it was exposed.

undisclosed details

Focuses on the details that were not revealed.

unreported facts

Highlights that the facts were not officially reported.

suppressed data

Highlights that the data was actively prevented from being known.

hidden data

Implies the existence of data that remains unseen.

unpublicized details

Focuses on the fact that the details were not made public.

secret information

Indicates the information was kept secret.

classified data

Implies the data is officially classified and restricted.

unrevealed intelligence

Stresses the intelligence aspect of the information that wasn't revealed.

FAQs

How can I use "withheld information" in a sentence?

You can use "withheld information" to describe situations where someone intentionally does not reveal facts, for example: "The company "withheld information" about the product's defects".

What are some alternatives to "withheld information"?

Alternatives include "concealed facts", "undisclosed details", or "suppressed data", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "information was withheld"?

Yes, "information was withheld" is a grammatically correct passive voice construction, indicating that someone actively chose not to disclose the information.

What's the difference between "withheld information" and "undisclosed information"?

"Withheld information" implies a deliberate act of keeping information secret, while "undisclosed information" ("undisclosed information") simply means the information has not been revealed, regardless of intent.