beyond the reach of

USAGE SUMMARY

"beyond the reach of" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is inaccessible or unattainable. Example: The treasure was buried deep in the cave, beyond the reach of any human.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

They are beyond the reach of justice.

Independent

But the prices are beyond the reach of most.

The Economist

They're in their own world, beyond the reach of adults.

The New Yorker

I'd know things beyond the reach of my mind.

The New Yorker

SOME facts are beyond the reach of search engines.

The New York Times - Food

Alas, it is beyond the reach of regulators and legislators.

The Economist

The sovereign lies beyond the reach of party politics.

The Economist

They are not beyond the reach of Dieudonné.

Independent

But we were safely beyond the reach of retaliation.

The New York Times

Many Allied factories remained beyond the reach of Axis forces.

The New Yorker

By "innocent" he means beyond the reach of law.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "beyond the reach of" to clearly indicate that something is unattainable, inaccessible, or outside the influence of a particular entity or force. Ensure the context makes it clear what is being limited or exceeded.

Common error

Avoid using "beyond the reach of" when you simply mean something is difficult to obtain. The phrase implies a fundamental barrier, not just a challenge. For example, don't say "A promotion is beyond the reach of most employees" if you only mean it's competitive; use a phrase like "difficult to obtain".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "beyond the reach of" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun, indicating that something is unattainable, inaccessible, or outside the influence or control of something else. Ludwig provides several examples demonstrating this function.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

37%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "beyond the reach of" is a versatile prepositional phrase used to indicate that something is unattainable, inaccessible, or outside the influence of a particular entity. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used. It appears most frequently in News & Media and Scientific contexts, suggesting a neutral to formal register. When using this phrase, ensure that the context clearly defines what is being limited or exceeded. Be mindful not to use it when simply implying difficulty, as it denotes a fundamental barrier. Consider alternatives like "out of reach of" or "inaccessible to" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

inaccessible to

Emphasizes the inability to access or get to something.

out of the scope of

Focuses on something being outside the boundaries of a defined area or topic.

beyond the capability of

Focuses on the lack of ability or power to achieve something.

outside the realm of

Indicates that something is not within a specific area of experience or possibility.

unattainable by

Highlights the impossibility of achieving something by a particular agent.

past the limits of

Emphasizes that something is exceeding defined boundaries or restrictions.

not subject to

Highlights an exemption from a rule, law, or influence.

immune to

Indicates resistance or protection from something.

impervious to

Suggests that something cannot be affected or harmed by something else.

transcending the grasp of

Suggests something that exceeds the ability to understand or seize.

FAQs

How can I use "beyond the reach of" in a sentence?

Use "beyond the reach of" to indicate something is unattainable or inaccessible. For example, "The summit was beyond the reach of inexperienced climbers" or "The suspect was beyond the reach of local authorities".

What is an alternative to saying "beyond the reach of"?

Alternatives include "out of reach of", "inaccessible to", or "unattainable by", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "beyond the reaches of" instead of "beyond the reach of"?

While "beyond the reaches of" is occasionally used, "beyond the reach of" is the more common and generally preferred phrasing. "Reaches" implies multiple instances of reaching, which is often not the intended meaning.

What's the difference between "beyond the reach of" and "outside the scope of"?

"Beyond the reach of" suggests something is unattainable or inaccessible, while "outside the scope of" indicates something is not relevant to or included within a particular topic or area of consideration.