Osoittama

Osoittama is a Finnish attributive participle derived from the verb osoittaa, meaning to indicate or point out. Formed with the suffix -ma, it functions as an adjective that describes something as having been indicated or identified by someone. In written Finnish, osoittama is commonly used to refer to a feature, fact, error, or result that has been pointed out in discussion, analysis, or reporting. For example, phrases like osoittaman virheen korjaus mean “the correction of the indicated error,” and tutkimuksen osoittama suuntaus means “the trend indicated by the study.” The form agrees with the noun it modifies in case and number, and it can appear in various inflections, such as osoittaman virheen, osoittaman tuloksen, and so on.

In many contexts the more neutral passive participle osoitettu is used when the emphasis is on the act of indicating rather than the item itself. Osoittama thus tends to emphasize the item that has been identified or pointed out, rather than the act of pointing out.

Origin and usage notes: Osoittama is a standard part of Finnish grammar, reflecting the productive process of turning verbs into participial adjectives with the -ma suffix. It is commonly found in technical, scientific, editorial, and academic prose, where references to previously mentioned or identified elements are frequent. While it can be used broadly, stylistically some writers prefer osoittettu for a more explicit focus on the act of indicating.