can be subsumed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "can be subsumed" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in contexts where one concept or idea is included within a broader category or framework. Example: "The various theories of motivation can be subsumed under the broader category of psychological needs."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But not everything can be subsumed in discussions of character and good or bad will.

The New Yorker

They make clear this is not an issue that can be subsumed beneath anxieties about upsetting relative cultural values.

Independent

She's incredibly articulate on the thorny subjects of parent-child relations, and how the self can be subsumed within marriage, but only with regard to her characters.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It's misleading now to think of six or nine world religions, of pre-packaged traditions into which individuals can be subsumed without remainder.

The Guardian - Opinion

These mechanisms can be subsumed under the term daʿwah, the same word that had been used for the movement that brought the ʿAbbāsids to power.

Encyclopedia Britannica

His conversion comes at a literary seminar where the lecturer, challenged on his facts, has decreed that "inaccuracies can be subsumed as an inevitable part of postmodern uncertainty, or play, one or the other or both".

The New York Times - Books

Both of these techniques can be subsumed under "negative" eugenics, since the genes screened against are those associated with diseases or, potentially, with other conditions that the parents might regard as undesirable, such as low I.Q., obesity, same-sex preference, or baldness.

The New Yorker

If "Days" explores how a woman can be subsumed into her marriage — leaving a howling vacuum behind when the vessel is broken — then "Ties" surveys, in part, the violence of masculine entitlement, as Aldo dismantles a marriage, and a life, and just as selfishly puts it back together again.

The New Yorker

It's about as visually memorable as I recall the pavilion was, meaning hardly at all, which perhaps explains why the show, which up to this point is at least coherent, shoehorns in various art that can be subsumed under Ms. Schaffner's free-associative rubric of nothing cognates.

The New York Times - Arts

Ms. Ravitch's basic idea is that the education bureaucrats, the politicians, and the heads of a group of fabulously wealthy foundations have cleaved to the latest fads and theories, most of which can be subsumed under the business model of public education.

The New York Times

The discussion can be subsumed as P2P vs. GPON, which is somewhat misleading as this article reveals.

Telecommunications Policy

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "can be subsumed" when you want to indicate that a specific item, concept, or idea fits within a larger, more general category or principle. This phrase works well in academic and technical writing where precise categorization is important.

Common error

Avoid using "can be subsumed" in informal contexts. Simpler alternatives like "can be included" or "fits within" are often more appropriate for everyday conversations or less formal writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "can be subsumed" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating the possibility of something being included within a larger category or concept. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's a correct and usable phrase. The examples show its application in diverse contexts, from philosophical arguments to scientific classifications.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

62%

News & Media

29%

Encyclopedias

4%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "can be subsumed" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, that signifies the inclusion of something within a larger category or framework. Predominantly found in scientific and academic contexts, it serves to establish hierarchical relationships and clarify the position of specific elements within broader concepts. While useful for precise categorization, it should be used judiciously in less formal settings, where simpler alternatives might be more appropriate. The phrase appears most frequently in scientific publications like PlosOne, BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making, and Behaviour Research and Therapy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

can be included

Focuses on simple inclusion rather than categorization.

can be categorized

Emphasizes the act of classifying into a specific category.

can be classified

Similar to categorized but more formal.

can be encompassed

Highlights the idea of being completely contained within something.

can be incorporated

Suggests a blending or integration into a larger whole.

can be integrated

Focuses on combining elements into a cohesive unit.

can be grouped

Implies a looser association than subsumption.

can be filed under

More direct and less formal than "can be subsumed".

can be brought under

Implies control or management under a broader category.

can be reduced to

Indicates a simplification or fundamental relationship.

FAQs

How do I use "can be subsumed" in a sentence?

Use "can be subsumed" to indicate that something is included or categorized within a larger group or concept. For example: "These individual cases "can be subsumed" under the general heading of 'customer service issues'.

What is a simple way to say "can be subsumed"?

Alternatives to "can be subsumed" include "can be included", "can be categorized", or "can be classified", depending on the context. These options are less formal and easier to understand.

How does "can be subsumed" differ from "can be summarized"?

"Can be subsumed" implies that something is part of a larger category, while "can be summarized" means that something can be briefly restated. These phrases are not interchangeable.

When is it appropriate to use "can be subsumed" in writing?

It's appropriate in academic, scientific, or technical writing where you need to show that a specific case, instance, or concept is part of a broader class or falls under a general rule. For instance, "All observed instances of this phenomenon "can be subsumed" under this theory".