can be prevailed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "can be prevailed" is not correct in English.
The correct form would be "can prevail" or "can be prevailed upon." Example: "In difficult situations, kindness can prevail."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Smokers can be prevailed upon to light up in a different room, or install air purifiers with charcoal filters.

The New York Times

"Male victims are almost invisible to the authorities such as the police, who rarely can be prevailed upon to take the man's side," said John Mays of Parity.

The Guardian

The hope in California is that politicians who have been forced out by term-limit laws can be prevailed upon to raise sales taxes from 5% to 6.5% and cut education spending.So far there is little evidence that the ploy will work.

The Economist

The question now is whether even more wretched social and political consequences can be avoided: whether serious unrest might finally erupt among the poor, perhaps even among the army; whether Mr Yeltsin can be prevailed upon to resign; and, if so, whether his successor would be found through constitutional, democratic means.Those are horrible questions to be haunting any country.

The Economist

While Steve Jobs may or may not be staying on in a detached yet powerful fashion, the new face of Apple is Tim Cook and it may be that he can be prevailed upon to make the changes Jobs wouldn't, or couldn't.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Vladimir Putin's Russia is a place where some oligarch or other can frequently be prevailed upon to pick up the slack in the hour of need.

The Guardian - Sport

Can our Judges not be prevailed upon to condemn one of them at least to imprisonment for life for shooting his friend, because he must enjoy the pleasure of playing with his pistol?

The New York Times

No one tendency can be seen to prevail.

The Guardian

But in the Senate you can be trying to prevail over another senator on Tuesday afternoon whose vote you know you're going to need on Wednesday afternoon for something else.

The New Yorker

LONDON — After all the wars and the bombings and the killings since Sept. 11, 2001, the new decade brings with it a question: Who is winning in what was once labeled a war on terrorism, if, indeed, anyone can be deemed to prevail?

The New York Times

He must be purged so that honesty can be seen to prevail in an institution that only enjoys a 22% approval rating.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "can be prevailed" in your writing. Instead, use the correct form: "can prevail" or "can be prevailed upon", depending on your intended meaning. For clarity, consider alternatives like "can be persuaded" or "can be influenced".

Common error

A common mistake is using "prevail" passively when it requires an active subject or a prepositional phrase like "upon". Remember, "prevail" usually means to succeed or be widespread. If you mean someone can be influenced, use "persuaded" or "influenced" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "can be prevailed" attempts to express a possibility of being successful or widespread, but it's not grammatically sound. This construction often leads to confusion as Ludwig AI indicates that the correct form should be "can prevail" or "can be prevailed upon."

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "can be prevailed" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI points out, the correct forms are either the active "can prevail" (meaning to succeed) or the passive "can be prevailed upon" (meaning to be persuaded). Because of the likelihood of misinterpretation, it is best to use clearer alternatives such as "can be persuaded", "can be influenced", or "can succeed" to ensure your message is accurately conveyed. While authoritative sources such as The New York Times and The Guardian sometimes contain the phrase, its rarity and questionable grammar suggest avoiding it in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

can be persuaded

Focuses on convincing someone through argument or enticement. It suggests a more direct form of influence.

can be convinced

Similar to "can be persuaded" but emphasizes a change in belief or opinion.

can be influenced

Highlights the ability to affect someone's actions or decisions without necessarily changing their mind.

can be swayed

Implies a gentle or subtle shift in opinion or course of action.

can be induced

Suggests that someone can be led or tempted into doing something.

can be impelled

Focuses on the force that drives or compels someone to act.

can be moved

Highlights the emotional aspect of influencing someone.

can be won over

Emphasizes the act of gaining someone's support or approval.

can be brought around

Suggests a gradual change in someone's perspective or willingness.

can achieve dominance

Shifts the focus from influencing individuals to attaining a position of power or control.

FAQs

What does it mean to say something "can prevail"?

To say something "can prevail" means it has the potential to be successful or dominant. For example, "Justice "can prevail" if people stand up for what's right."

What's the correct way to use 'prevail' when talking about influencing someone?

When referring to influencing someone, the correct phrase is "can be prevailed upon". However, it's often clearer and more direct to use phrases like "can be persuaded" or "can be influenced".

Is "can be prevailed" grammatically correct?

No, "can be prevailed" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The verb "prevail" typically doesn't take this passive construction. The correct form is either the active "can prevail" or the passive "can be prevailed upon."

What are some alternatives to "can be prevailed upon"?

Instead of "can be prevailed upon", consider using stronger and clearer alternatives like "can be convinced", "can be persuaded", or "can be swayed", depending on the nuance you want to convey.