can be discharged

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "can be discharged" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts related to releasing someone from a duty, obligation, or medical care. Example: "After a thorough evaluation, the doctor confirmed that the patient can be discharged from the hospital."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This means people can be discharged straight into the community.

The Guardian

A123's batteries can be discharged 90percentt or more.

MIT Technology Review

Before the wastewater can be discharged the pollutant concentration must be reduced.

Chemical Engineering and Processing: Process Intensification

Effluents, antibiotics and other chemicals can be discharged into surrounding waters.

Stanford University

In some cases, hospitals are building or buying nursing homes to which their patients can be discharged.

The New York Times

Most often, patients can be discharged home within 24 to 48 hours after continuous chest tube suction.

Stanford University

The core of the regulation is a list of hundreds of chemicals along with the maximum concentration at which they can be discharged into the water table.

The New York Times

So we must think through what management should be accountable for; and how and through whom its accountability can be discharged.

Harvard Business Review

Then you don't have the generation of acidic scrubber sludge that can be discharged at sea, and the threat of a heavy fuel oil spill is significantly reduced.

The Guardian

These combat-style shotguns fire cartridges but can be fitted with magazines holding up to ten rounds that can be discharged rapidly without any need to reload.

The Times

Under House practice, such a resolution must be debated and acted upon in committee or else it can be discharged to the House floor for consideration.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about medical contexts, ensure that all criteria for discharge are clearly met and documented before stating that a patient "can be discharged".

Common error

Avoid using "can be discharged" when an active voice construction would be more direct and clear. For example, instead of "the wastewater can be discharged", consider "the company can discharge the wastewater" if you want to emphasize who is performing the action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "can be discharged" functions as a passive verb phrase indicating the possibility or permission for something to be released or dismissed. As shown by Ludwig, this is used in various contexts from medical releases to environmental regulations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

39%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Academia

8%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "can be discharged" is a versatile passive construction used to indicate that something is permissible or able to be released, dismissed, or allowed to leave. According to Ludwig, it's considered grammatically correct and commonly used, featuring prominently in scientific, news, and formal contexts. The phrase appears frequently in discussions about medical patients being released from care, waste products being released into the environment, or obligations being satisfied. When writing, use active voice where possible. Alternatives such as ""may be released"" or ""is eligible for release"" can offer subtle shifts in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is eligible for release

Focuses specifically on meeting the requirements for release, often from a hospital or institution.

may be released

Suggests possibility of release, differing by using a modal verb that indicates possibility rather than permission or ability.

is authorized for discharge

Highlights the permission aspect, indicating that someone has given the authorization for the discharge to occur.

is cleared for release

Similar to "eligible", implies that all necessary checks and approvals have been completed.

can be let go

More informal and general, indicating a release from obligation or confinement.

is free to leave

Emphasizes the freedom granted after discharge, applicable in contexts where restriction was previously in place.

is permitted to leave

Stresses the permission aspect, indicating that leaving is now officially allowed.

is allowed to go home

Specifically relates to hospital or institutional discharge, focusing on returning home.

may be dismissed

Implies a formal release from a role or duty, not necessarily related to physical location.

is able to be dismissed

Similar to 'may be dismissed' but uses 'able' for clarity, focusing on the capability of being released from a role or duty.

FAQs

What does it mean when something "can be discharged"?

When something "can be discharged", it means that it is permissible or possible for it to be released, dismissed, or allowed to leave a particular place or situation. This could apply to patients in hospitals, wastewater in environmental regulations, or obligations in legal contexts.

What is a synonym for saying something "can be discharged"?

Alternatives for "can be discharged" include phrases like "may be released", "is eligible for release", or "is cleared for release", depending on the context.

How does the meaning of "can be discharged" differ in medical and environmental contexts?

In a medical context, "can be discharged" usually refers to a patient being released from a hospital or medical facility. In an environmental context, it often refers to wastewater or other substances being released into the environment, usually after meeting certain regulatory standards.

Is it better to use the active or passive voice when saying something "can be discharged"?

Whether to use active or passive voice depends on the context. Using the passive voice ("can be discharged") is appropriate when the actor is unknown or unimportant. The active voice is preferred when you want to emphasize who or what is performing the discharging action. For example, instead of "the wastewater can be discharged", consider "the company can discharge the wastewater" if you want to emphasize who is performing the action.