It could work that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "It could work that" is not correct in standard written English.
It seems to be an incomplete thought and lacks clarity. A more complete phrase would typically follow, such as "It could work that way." Example: "I think it could work that we collaborate on this project to achieve better results."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

TechCrunch

The New Yorker

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

It could work that way.

The New Yorker

And this is the most straightforward and simple implementation of how it could work that I've seen yet.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Dr. Bruce Reitz, one of the surgeons, said, "It's exciting, to do it in a baby like this after not having this option before and seeing that it really could work; that was exciting for our team".

The New York Times

"It is quite interesting how it could work out that way".

The New York Times

"It could work in that manner, but to put a more positive spin on it you'd rather play in a stadium with a good atmosphere rather than it be a half-empty stadium," added the Everton defender.

BBC

"So I heard that story and I thought, 'I don't know, I think it could work somehow.' That summer was all about sitting in that living room with funny stories happening, but you need to keep the tension going".

The New York Times

However, the Department of Health faced embarrassment when six leading health organisations refused to sign up to a "responsibility deal" on alcohol misuse, claiming that there was no evidence that it could work and that it was too pro-industry.

The Guardian

"We will probably unveil the overall strategy later this year in a little more detail, but I'm quite confident that it could work and that ultimately we could offer a round trip to Mars that the average person could afford - let's say the average person after they've made some savings".

BBC

They said the experiment was going forward without evidence in monkeys that it could work and that it held the possibility of harm: viruses spreading in the brain, or gene-treated cells churning out huge quantities of proteins that inhibit brain cells from firing.

The New York Times

And WPP already has thought of ways it could work with services that compete with Yahoo's Right Media — like Microsoft's DrivePm advertising network.

The New York Times - Tech

LeDoux professes he can't imagine how it could work, given that long-term memories aren't stored in a single location.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When expressing possibility, use grammatically complete phrases such as "it could work that way" or "it could potentially work" for clarity.

Common error

Avoid truncating phrases like "it could work that way" to just "it could work that" as it creates grammatical ambiguity and sounds incomplete.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "It could work that" attempts to express a possibility or potential for success. However, Ludwig AI highlights that it is not grammatically correct in standard written English and often requires completion to convey a clear meaning.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

24%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

12%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "It could work that" attempts to express possibility, Ludwig AI analysis shows it's grammatically incorrect. A more complete and correct construction like ""it could work that way"" is recommended. Use grammatically correct alternatives for clarity, especially in formal contexts. The prevalence of the phrase, albeit limited, is noted more within news and media.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

It could work that way

Adds "way" for grammatical completeness and improved clarity.

It might work that way

Substitutes "could" with "might", indicating a similar level of possibility.

It could potentially work

Adds "potentially" to emphasize the possibility of success.

It has the potential to work

Rephrases to focus on the potential inherent in the situation.

It is possible that it will work

Expresses possibility using a more formal and explicit construction.

It's conceivable that it could be effective

Uses "conceivable" and "effective" to suggest possibility and positive outcome.

It is plausible that it will succeed

Emphasizes the believability and potential success of the idea.

It is likely to work out

Focuses on the probable positive resolution or outcome.

There's a chance it will be effective

Highlights the element of chance in achieving a positive outcome.

It presents a working possibility

Focuses on the action that presents a possibility.

FAQs

How can I properly use the phrase "It could work" in a sentence?

To use "It could work" correctly, add context such as "It could work in theory" or "It could work if we try this method." Consider alternatives like "it might work" or "it has potential".

What is a more grammatically sound alternative to "It could work that"?

Instead of "It could work that", use phrases like "it could work that way" or "it could work if". These options provide a complete thought and improve clarity.

Is there a difference in meaning between "It could work that" and "It could work that way"?

"It could work that" is grammatically incomplete and less clear. "It could work that way" adds the necessary context to convey a complete thought about a potential solution or approach.

When is it appropriate to use "It could work that way"?

Use "It could work that way" when you're referring to a specific method, strategy, or approach that has the potential to be successful. For instance, "If we change our marketing strategy, it could work that way."