a determination cannot be made

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a determination cannot be made" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where a conclusion or decision is not possible due to lack of information or clarity. Example: "After reviewing the evidence, we concluded that a determination cannot be made regarding the outcome of the investigation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"A determination cannot be made just by knowing whether he hired a private investigator".

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

But a final determination cannot be made until a more precise dust map, expected to be released by the Planck team in October, is available, he adds.

HuffPost

Even if an unequivocal determination cannot be made, they have an obligation to try to get as close to the truth as possible, and not to let this devolve into a rote exercise or a partisan charade.

Los Angeles Times

Unknown: a catch-all class used if a more specific determination cannot be made.

Bioinformatics

While these suggest the possibility that the skull represents a male, this determination cannot be made with confidence on the current evidence.

Plosone

Where there are significant differences in the proportion of genes in a category, the determination cannot be made whether there were fewer genes expressed or that there are actually fewer genes encoded in the genome--and the same goes for the relative over-expression.

BMC Plant Biology

But the aide added a note of caution, saying that "final determinations" cannot be made until any new bill receives a score from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office and Democrats have a chance make their case to the Senate parliamentarian.

The Washington Post

Such a determination generally cannot be made, given a lack of supplemental exposure data in NHANES.

Environmental Health Perspectives

That determination, however, cannot be made simply by declaring that the Constitution has a single meaning.

The New York Times

The court said both the Sierra Club and federal Bureau of Land Management agreed the environmental impact on the canyon in San Bernardino County is "severe" as a result of off-road vehicle use, but the court said a determination of "considerable impact" cannot be made on a parcel-by-parcel basis but must be taken as a view of the whole area.

Los Angeles Times

So a comparison cannot be made.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a determination cannot be made" when you want to convey that, based on the available information, a definite conclusion or decision is not possible. This phrasing is suitable for formal and neutral contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "a determination cannot be made" when there is sufficient evidence to suggest a likely outcome or conclusion. Opt for phrases that reflect a degree of probability rather than complete uncertainty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a determination cannot be made" functions as a statement of epistemic uncertainty. It indicates that a conclusion or decision is impossible, given the available information. Ludwig AI provides numerous examples illustrating its usage in contexts where clarity is lacking.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a determination cannot be made" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to indicate the impossibility of reaching a conclusion due to insufficient information. According to Ludwig AI, it appears most often in News & Media, Science, and Academic contexts. While versatile, it is important to use this phrase accurately, avoiding its application when sufficient evidence for a probable conclusion exists. Alternatives like "a conclusion is not possible" or "it is impossible to determine" can provide nuanced alternatives depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a conclusion is not possible

Replaces "determination" with "conclusion" and uses a more direct statement of impossibility.

a decision cannot be reached

Substitutes "determination" with "decision" and "made" with "reached", highlighting the lack of resolution.

it is impossible to determine

Shifts the focus to the act of determining and emphasizes the impossibility.

no conclusion can be drawn

Emphasizes the absence of a logical inference based on available information.

an assessment is not feasible

Replaces "determination" with "assessment" and "cannot be made" with "is not feasible", focusing on practicality.

it's not possible to ascertain

Uses "ascertain" as a more formal alternative to "determine", conveying a sense of thorough investigation.

a judgment cannot be formed

Emphasizes the inability to create a considered opinion or evaluation.

the matter remains unresolved

Shifts the focus to the state of the issue, highlighting its lack of resolution.

the situation is inconclusive

Focuses on the ambiguous nature of the situation preventing a clear determination.

no definitive answer exists

Highlights the absence of a clear and final solution or explanation.

FAQs

What does "a determination cannot be made" mean?

The phrase "a determination cannot be made" signifies that, given the current information or circumstances, it's impossible to reach a definite conclusion or decision.

When is it appropriate to use "a determination cannot be made"?

This phrase is suitable when the available data is insufficient, contradictory, or too ambiguous to allow for a clear resolution or judgment. It's often used in formal reports, analyses, and legal contexts.

What are some alternatives to "a determination cannot be made"?

You can use alternatives such as "a conclusion is not possible", "a decision cannot be reached", or "it is impossible to determine" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "a determination cannot be made" formal or informal?

This phrase leans towards the formal side. For more informal contexts, you might choose alternatives like "we can't figure it out" or "it's impossible to say for sure".