Used and loved by millions

Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

MitStanfordHarvardAustralian Nationa UniversityNanyangOxford

can be define

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "can be define" is not correct in English.
It should be "can be defined." You can use it when discussing the potential for something to be described or characterized in a certain way. Example: "The term 'sustainability' can be defined as the ability to meet present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The empirical wavelet can be define as a bandpass filter for each (Lambda _{n}) by utilizing idea of both Littlewood-Paley amd Meyer's wavelets [15].

With the help of δ d Open image in new window-density, the notions of statistical convergence and statistical Cauchy for multiple sequences of fuzzy numbers can be define as follows.

Thus, RSS can be define as: RSS=10logleft(frac{P_{t}}{1mW}gamma G_{r}^{2}G_{t}^{2}left(frac{lambd}right d}right)^{4} right) (2) Velocity of moving tags: Velocity reflects the speed of goods being moved by customers.

Efficiency can be define mathematically as E = 1 - frac{{mathop sum nolimits_{i = 1}^{N} (T_{i} - O_{i} )^{2} }}{{sumnolimits_{i = 1}^{N} {left( {T_{i} - {bar{T}}_{i}} right)^{2} } }}where T i is measured output (Target), O i is the predicted output from ANN and ({bar{T}}_{i}) is the mean measured output.

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

A drought can be defined in various ways.

News & Media

The Guardian

Fiction can be defined as a coherent tissue of lies.

A parabola can be defined by three points.

News & Media

The Economist

"Need," of course, can be defined in various ways.

News & Media

The New York Times

"Its impact on business can be defined and measured".

News & Media

The New York Times

Neither of which can be defined as irony".

Assuming that moment can be defined, of course.

News & Media

The Economist
Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct past participle form, "defined", instead of the base form "define" after "can be".

Common error

Avoid using the base form of the verb after "can be". Always use the past participle (e.g., "defined", not "define") to ensure grammatical correctness. "The concept can be defined as..." is correct; "The concept can be define as..." is incorrect.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

83%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "can be define" is intended to function as a passive construction, indicating the possibility of something being defined. However, it's grammatically incorrect; the correct form is "can be defined". As Ludwig AI points out, using the base form "define" instead of the past participle "defined" is an error.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

75%

News & Media

25%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "can be define" is a grammatically incorrect construction that should be avoided. The correct form is "can be defined". While Ludwig AI provides examples of its usage, these instances do not validate the incorrect grammar. Always use the past participle "defined" after "can be". The intended function is to express the possibility of something being defined, typically in formal contexts. Use alternatives like "can be described" or "is defined as" to ensure clarity and correctness.

FAQs

What is the correct form, "can be define" or "can be defined"?

The correct form is "can be defined". The phrase requires the past participle of the verb "define" after the auxiliary verbs "can be".

How can I use "can be defined" in a sentence?

You can use "can be defined" to indicate that something is capable of being described or explained in a particular way. For example, "Success can be defined in many different ways."

What are some alternatives to "can be defined"?

Alternatives include "can be described", "can be characterized", or "is defined as", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "can be define" ever acceptable?

No, "can be define" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is always "can be defined".

ChatGPT power + Grammarly precisionChatGPT power + Grammarly precision
ChatGPT + Grammarly

Editing plus AI, all in one place.

Stop switching between tools. Your AI writing partner for everything—polishing proposals, crafting emails, finding the right tone.

Source & Trust

83%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: