can be easily missed

USAGE SUMMARY

"can be easily missed" is a perfectly valid phrase in written English.
You could use it when referring to something that is particularly easy to overlook, particularly due to its size or inconspicuousness. For example: "The tiny crack in the wall can be easily missed, but it is the primary source of the water damage."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

40 human-written examples

Pockets of this tranquillity exist across the city in mews and alleys that can be easily missed by passers-by.

The New York Times

It works very well and is a lot more distracting than a vibrating wrist, which can be easily missed.

The Guardian - Tech

Mr. Langdon said he was frustrated at the need to assign many of his auditors to ferret out dubious tax shelters, which can be easily missed in the stacks of accounting records that big companies attach to their returns.

The New York Times

The Ixodes scapularis ticks that can transmit the virus are often very small, he said, from about the size of a pinhead up to the size of an apple seed, and can be easily missed.

The Washington Post

The center has 25 volunteers, some trained to assist biologists with treatment, rescue and releases, and 100 beach patrollers, who know when and where to look for cold-stunned turtles -- after high tide, on the wrack line, where they can be easily missed among the dark seaweed.

The New York Times

It can be easily missed because the presenting symptoms and physical examination findings are subtle.

Duke University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

20 human-written examples

As selenoproteins and genes of the Sel machinery, such as selC, can be easily missing in genome annotations (Lowe and Eddy 1997; Castellano et al. 2008), we made use of a dedicated bioinformatics analysis for the identification of sel genes and genes encoding selenoproteins.

Genome Biology and Evolution

Different elements of history, examination, and laboratory findings have varying predictive power in the diagnosis of appendicitis, 6 and algorithms and scoring systems for clinical evaluation exist, 4 but appendicitis can nevertheless be easily missed.

British Medical Journal

Our systematic comprehensive geriatric assessment proves feasible to specify potentially modifiable problems and geriatric conditions that can decrease quality of life and that are easily missed if not specifically anticipated.

BMC Nephrology

In addition, model-based analysis can identify potential cells of interest that are easily missed with manual gating, such as the ICS-positive CD4+ and CD8+ events in Fig.  2.

Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy

It's easily missed.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "can be easily missed", ensure the sentence clearly states what 'it' refers to, avoiding ambiguity. For instance, instead of 'It can be easily missed', specify 'The subtle detail can be easily missed'.

Common error

Avoid using "can be easily missed" without specifying the context or audience. What's easily missed by one person might be obvious to another. Provide necessary background or qualifications.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "can be easily missed" functions as a descriptor, modifying a noun or noun phrase. It indicates a characteristic of being subtle or inconspicuous, making it likely to be overlooked. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's grammatical and appropriate.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "can be easily missed" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe something subtle or inconspicuous, often requiring specific attention or knowledge. As demonstrated by the Ludwig examples, this phrase is frequently employed across diverse contexts, including science, news media, and academia. The phrase serves as a warning or advisory, urging the audience to exercise caution to avoid overlooking critical details. While alternatives such as "easy to overlook" or "escapes notice" exist, "can be easily missed" maintains its utility in emphasizing the potential for oversight. Overall, according to Ludwig AI, this phrase remains a valuable and versatile tool for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is easy to overlook

Focuses on the ease of overlooking something.

is readily forgotten

Emphasizes the speed and ease with which something can be forgotten.

escapes notice

Highlights the idea that something avoids being noticed.

is not readily apparent

Indicates that something is not immediately obvious.

is easily ignored

Focuses on the act of ignoring something, whether intentional or unintentional.

is prone to being overlooked

Indicates a tendency for something to be overlooked.

is often undetected

Highlights the failure to detect something.

is easily disregarded

Focuses on the act of dismissing something as unimportant.

is conveniently forgotten

Suggests that the act of forgetting is intentional or self-serving.

tends to be unnoticed

Indicates a tendency for something to go unnoticed.

FAQs

How can I use "can be easily missed" in a sentence?

Use "can be easily missed" to describe something that is likely to be overlooked, such as, "The nuance in his argument "can be easily missed" by those unfamiliar with the subject matter".

What are some alternatives to "can be easily missed"?

Alternatives include "easy to overlook", "readily forgotten", or "escapes notice", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "can be easily missed" or "is easily missed"?

"Can be easily missed" emphasizes the potential for something to be missed, while "is easily missed" states it as a more definite characteristic. The best choice depends on the intended degree of certainty.

What does "can be easily missed" imply about the thing being described?

It implies that the thing in question is subtle, inconspicuous, or otherwise not immediately apparent. It might require close attention or specific knowledge to notice.