can best

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "can best" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate the most effective or suitable way to do something. Example: "This method can best illustrate the concept we are discussing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Who can best understand players?

The New York Times

"You can best believe that".

The New York Times - Sports

Who can best speak to the culture?

The New York Times

Growth can best be described as a process of transformation.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"We can best honor him by hunting down this murderer".

The New York Times

— which can best be answered with further questions.

The New Yorker

If justice can best be served elsewhere, so be it.

The Economist

Who can best put all the parts together?

The Economist

It's about how they can best get their dollar".

The New York Times - Sports

Their decorating plan can best be described as modern avian.

The New York Times

At least that is how I can best explain it.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "can best", ensure the context clearly defines the criteria for 'best'. Avoid vague statements and specify what makes the action or method superior.

Common error

Avoid using "can best" in contexts where "can" or "best" alone would suffice. Redundancy weakens the statement. For example, instead of "This approach can best solve the problem optimally", simply say "This approach best solves the problem."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "can best" functions as a modal verb phrase indicating the optimal or most effective way to perform an action. As Ludwig AI shows, it's frequently employed to suggest superiority or suitability in achieving a specific outcome.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

40%

Encyclopedias

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "can best" is a versatile modal verb phrase used to indicate the most effective or optimal way to achieve something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and frequently appears in news, science, and encyclopedia contexts. When using "can best", ensure you provide clear context for what defines the 'best' approach and avoid redundancy. Alternatives such as "is best able to" or "can most effectively" can be used to vary your writing while maintaining the core meaning. This phrase effectively communicates guidance by highlighting the optimal approach.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is best able to

Emphasizes capability and suitability for a task.

is ideally suited to

Highlights the perfect match between a subject and a task or situation.

can most effectively

Replaces "best" with "most effectively" to emphasize efficiency.

is in the best position to

Focuses on the advantageous circumstances that enable optimal performance.

can optimally

Uses "optimally" to express achieving the best possible outcome.

is the most effective way to

Rephrases the phrase to emphasize method effectiveness.

is the prime way to

This alternative focuses on a way to do something of a high degree.

is the superior way to

This alternative focuses on superiority rather than effectiveness.

can with greatest effect

This option emphasizes the effect of the action.

is most qualified to

This focuses on being qualified to do something.

FAQs

How do I use "can best" in a sentence?

Use "can best" to indicate the most effective or suitable way to achieve a specific outcome. For example, "This method "can best" illustrate the concept."

What are some alternatives to "can best"?

You can use alternatives such as "is best able to", "can most effectively", or "is ideally suited to depending on the context.

Is it always necessary to use "can best", or can I sometimes use just "can" or "best"?

In many cases, using just "can" or "best" is sufficient and more concise. Use "can best" when you want to emphasize that something is the optimal or most effective approach among several possibilities.

What is the difference between "can best" and "can better"?

"Can best" implies that something is the most effective or optimal way, while "can better" simply means it's an improved way, but not necessarily the best.