can be developing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "can be developing" is not correct in standard written English.
It is not typically used because "can be" suggests a possibility, while "developing" implies an ongoing action, which creates a grammatical inconsistency. Example: "The project can be developing new features, but it requires more resources to proceed."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

They can be developing sensor-based systems for diverse industries; smart-city technologies; and new home-monitoring and -automation systems.

The Washington Post

The real point is that the team can be developing its minor league talent at the same time that it acquires new major league talent.

The New York Times - Sports

One day an agency can be developing an app, the next a new product, and the next a sensory festival experience – and because of the different types of technology involved, the costs can vary considerably.

The Guardian

He knows from that episode just how costly the process can be – developing new services while continuing to pay for the old one – but is confident that a learning disability transformation programme could be underwritten by a social finance loan fund if government put down some initial cash, potentially from the fines paid by banks for rigging Libor interest rates.

The Guardian

You can be developing a marketing plan one day and be working on the terms of a licensing agreement with a major company the next.

Science Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

It can be developed.

Harvard Business Review

Engine lubricants can be developed, too.

The New York Times - Sports

Of course, services can be developed anywhere.

The New York Times - Tech

Social skills can be developed.

Harvard Business Review

Emotional empathy can be developed.

Harvard Business Review

Leadership skills can be developed.

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer using alternatives like "may be developing" or "could be developing" to maintain grammatical correctness and clarity.

Common error

Avoid combining the modal verb "can", which indicates possibility, with the continuous tense "be developing", which indicates an ongoing action, as it creates grammatical awkwardness. Rephrase to clarify the intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "can be developing" attempts to combine a modal verb indicating possibility ("can") with a continuous aspect ("be developing"). This construction is grammatically questionable and not commonly used, as noted by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "can be developing" is grammatically unconventional and attempts to express the possibility of an ongoing action. Ludwig AI flags it as incorrect in standard written English. Although it appears in some contexts, mainly news and media, it's advisable to use alternatives like "may be developing" or "could be developing" for improved clarity and grammatical correctness. When expressing the state of development, consider "may be in development" or "could be under development". Using these alternatives will result in more precise and professional communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

may be developing

Replaces "can" with "may" to indicate a possibility that something is currently in progress.

could be developing

Substitutes "can" with "could" to suggest a potential or conditional ongoing action.

might be developing

Replaces "can" with "might" to convey a lower probability of the ongoing action.

is potentially developing

Adds "potentially" to emphasize the possibility of the development.

is possibly developing

Adds "possibly" to highlight the uncertainty of the ongoing action.

may be in development

Rephrases to focus on the state of "development" rather than the action of "developing".

could be under development

Emphasizes that the subject is currently undergoing a development process.

is undergoing development

Directly states that the subject is experiencing a process of development.

is in the process of developing

Lengthens the phrase to clarify the continuous nature of the development.

is starting to develop

Indicates the beginning phase of a development.

FAQs

How can I correctly use a phrase indicating a possibility of ongoing development?

Instead of "can be developing", use phrases like "may be developing", "could be developing", or "might be developing" to express a possibility with an action in progress.

What are some alternatives to "can be developing" that focus on the state of development?

Consider using phrases like "may be in development" or "could be under development" to shift the focus from the action to the state of being developed.

Is "can be developing" grammatically correct?

Ludwig AI indicates that "can be developing" is not considered grammatically correct in standard written English due to the mismatch between the modal verb "can" and the continuous tense. Using alternative phrasing may improve clarity and correctness.

What is the difference between "can be developing" and "is developing"?

"Is developing" states a current, ongoing action. "Can be developing" attempts to express a possibility, but it's grammatically unconventional. Alternatives like "may be developing" or "could be developing" more clearly convey possibility.