be in principle to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be in principle to" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express a theoretical or foundational aspect of something, but the construction is awkward and unclear. Example: "The decision should be, in principle, to support the new policy."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

And relying on private rating agencies also seems questionable, however desirable it may be in principle to draw on wider sources of information.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

For this reason, the review that is currently underway, particularly of the EEG, is in principle to be welcomed.

Energy, Sustainability and Society

It is argued that a language has to be, in principle, subject to checking by someone other than an individual user of the language (Wittgenstein 1953, 258).

SEP

Thus, it follows that the biological implications of these predicted interactions might be, in principle, impossible to be traced experimentally.

Plosone

This strategy can be, in principle, extended to vaccine discovery in a wide range of other pathogens.

Plosone

This generic optical properties characterization method can be, in principle, applied to any other nanoparticle based OCT contrast agents.

Biomedical Optics Express

We estimated FIS separately for hatchlings and metamorphs, therefore differences in FIS might be in principle due to differences in the reference population considered for FIS estimation.

Evolutionary Applications

Accordingly, empirical statements were cognitive and could be shown in principle to be either true or false.

SEP

They are also shown to be in principle effective external potential representable.

Information Theory of Molecular Systems

If new guidelines are being drawn up it is wrong in principle to do this in secrecy".

The Guardian

If that sounds familiar it's because it's similar in principle to how Microsoft's Kinect system works.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "be in principle to" due to its grammatical awkwardness. Instead, opt for clearer alternatives like "in principle, be able to" or "theoretically be able to".

Common error

A common mistake is placing "in principle" in the wrong position. Ensure it precedes the verb to maintain grammatical correctness; use "in principle, be" instead of "be in principle".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be in principle to" attempts to express a theoretical possibility or fundamental aspect. However, according to Ludwig AI, this construction is grammatically incorrect, which affects its proper function within a sentence. The intended function is to denote something that aligns with a particular rule or belief.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Encyclopedias

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be in principle to" is grammatically incorrect and not recommended for use. Ludwig AI indicates that the construction is awkward, although some sources, particularly in news and scientific contexts, attempt to use it. For clearer and more effective communication, alternatives such as "in principle, be able to", "theoretically be able to", or other similar phrases are preferable. Remember to prioritize grammatical correctness and clarity in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in principle, be able to

This corrects the word order to make the phrase grammatically sound, while retaining the original meaning.

be, in theory, able to

This alternative makes the theoretical nature explicit and corrects the grammatical structure.

be, from a theoretical standpoint, able to

This explicitly frames the ability from a theoretical perspective.

theoretically be able to

This alternative emphasizes the theoretical possibility of achieving something.

be fundamentally capable of

This emphasizes a basic, underlying capability.

be conceptually possible to

This highlights the conceptual feasibility of an action or idea.

be, in essence, able to

This focuses on the core or essential capacity.

be, at a basic level, able to

This alternative emphasizes a basic understanding or capacity.

be, in the abstract, able to

This highlights the theoretical or abstract nature of the ability.

be, in idea, able to

Focuses on the possibility that it exists as a concept

FAQs

What does "in principle" mean?

The phrase "in principle" means that something is theoretically possible or generally agreed upon, even if it's not yet put into practice.

How can I correctly use "in principle" in a sentence?

Ensure that "in principle" modifies the verb appropriately. A correct usage would be "This is, in principle, a good idea" or "In principle, it is possible to do this".

What are some alternatives to "be in principle to"?

Instead of "be in principle to", you could say "theoretically be able to", "in theory be able to", or "fundamentally be capable of".

Is "be in principle to" grammatically correct?

No, the phrase "be in principle to" is grammatically awkward. A more correct phrasing would be to reorder the words as "in principle, be able to" or use a synonymous phrase.