I cannot determine

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I cannot determine" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it whenever you are trying to convey that you are unable to find the answer to a question or problem. For example: "After numerous attempts to solve the equation, I cannot determine the solution."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Shortly after I decided on a typeface, for reasons I cannot determine my Fitbit died.

The New Yorker

I cannot determine finance, but I can point this part out.

The Guardian - Sport

As a result, when I hear a voice I can determine the sex, age, and gender of the speaker, but I cannot determine who the person speaking is.

The New Yorker

(That defendant may exist; I cannot determine that, but I am mentioning this case only because of the connection to Cohen v. Wilkerson, where the American defendant could not be found). It was likewise resolved through a stipulated judgment.

The Washington Post

But if I cannot determine what predominates in it, I cannot determine what anything is.

SEP

Today's outage occurred at Heysham 1 and so far I cannot determine if Heysham 1 had the same upgrades as Heysham 2. EDF Energy hasn't disclosed any further information about the outage at the time of this writing.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

And it cannot determine the rules for the powerful nations in the area.

The New Yorker

"I still cannot determine when I would have become a victim, because I've never believed that I did," Kutner writes.

The New Yorker

I actually cannot determine with any confidence whether the two amputee groups are being independently plotted in Figure 2, and I am having to look at the figure far too long to merit this level of confusion.

eLife

It is not possible to fix the coordinates in the dataset if the position is not known from some other dataset or publication (i.e. you cannot determine accurate source coordinates from the dataset you are attempting to correct).

Harvard University

This is a more rigorous version of the validated SANE metric which only allows responses from 0%to100%0% (i.e. cannot determine if a patient reported a worse condition due to the procedure) (Williams et al. 1999; Shelbourne et al. 2012).

Journal of Experimental Orthopaedics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using synonyms like "ascertain", "establish", or "discern" for a more formal tone in academic or professional writing.

Common error

Avoid using "I cannot determine" when a more nuanced expression of uncertainty would be more appropriate. Sometimes, stating a probability or possibility is more accurate than a complete inability to determine.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I cannot determine" functions as a declarative statement expressing an inability to ascertain, establish, or find out something. It combines a subject ("I"), a negative auxiliary verb ("cannot"), and a main verb ("determine"). As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a valid grammatical construction. The provided examples showcase its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I cannot determine" is a grammatically sound and usable expression to convey an inability to ascertain or establish something. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is valid and suitable for formal and neutral registers, commonly appearing in news media, scientific papers, and academic contexts. While generally correct, it's important to consider the specific context and potential synonyms for improved clarity and tone. Always ensure that the reason for the inability is clear to the reader. While "I cannot decide" is a reasonable option, the meaning changes to express the impossibility to make a decision. Consider the suggestions for related phrases for nuances of the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I am unable to ascertain

Replaces "cannot determine" with a more formal synonym "ascertain".

I am unable to establish

Uses "establish" instead of "determine", suggesting a failure to confirm something.

I cannot figure out

Employs the phrasal verb "figure out" for a more informal tone.

It is impossible for me to determine

Adds emphasis by stating the impossibility of determining something.

I fail to discern

Replaces "cannot determine" with the more sophisticated verb "discern".

I am at a loss to determine

Indicates confusion or uncertainty in determining something.

I haven't been able to determine

Shifts the focus to the ongoing inability to determine.

I am not in a position to determine

Suggests a lack of authority or information to make a determination.

I find it difficult to determine

Highlights the difficulty encountered in the process of determining.

I'm unable to decide

Uses "decide" instead of "determine", focusing on the lack of a decision.

FAQs

What are some alternative ways to say "I cannot determine"?

You can use alternatives like "I am unable to ascertain", "I cannot figure out", or "I fail to discern depending on the context and level of formality.

Is it grammatically correct to say "I cannot determine"?

Yes, "I cannot determine" is grammatically correct. It follows standard English sentence structure with a subject, verb, and object. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides numerous examples.

In what contexts is "I cannot determine" most appropriately used?

"I cannot determine" is suitable in various contexts where you want to express an inability to ascertain or establish something, especially in professional, academic, or formal settings. It is less common in informal conversations.

What's the difference between "I cannot determine" and "I cannot decide"?

While both phrases indicate an inability, "I cannot determine" suggests a failure to find something out or establish a fact. "I cannot decide" refers to the inability to choose between options. The former is about understanding, while the latter is about making a choice.