can best be

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "can best be" is a perfectly valid and commonly used phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that a certain idea or solution is the most appropriate or successful of multiple options. For example, you could say: "The solution to our problem can best be solved by implementing a new strategy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Their decorating plan can best be described as modern avian.

The New York Times

The record can best be described as patchy.

The Guardian

Their actions can best be described as preventive.

The New York Times

Perhaps this can best be dealt with by examples.

The New Yorker

— which can best be answered with further questions.

The New Yorker

Those can best be arrived at through testing.

The New York Times

Apricot who can best be described as a bolshy teenager.

The Guardian

Growth can best be described as a process of transformation.

Encyclopedia Britannica

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

The Economist

How this can best be accomplished is unclear.

The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry

What Tcho has achieved can best be understood by contrast.

MIT Technology Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "can best be" to indicate the most effective or suitable method, description, or approach among several options. It adds precision to your writing and clarifies your recommendation.

Common error

While "can best be" is useful, avoid using it excessively. Vary your language by using alternatives like "is ideally suited" or "is most effectively done" to keep your writing engaging and prevent repetition.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "can best be" functions as a modal verb phrase used to express the optimal or most suitable way to perform an action, describe something, or approach a situation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is commonly used to indicate a preference or recommendation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

34%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "can best be" is a versatile modal verb phrase used to indicate the optimal or most suitable way to approach a task, describe a concept, or make a recommendation. It enjoys widespread usage across diverse contexts, including news, science, and encyclopedic content, as seen in Ludwig's examples. While grammatically sound and highly prevalent, varying your phrasing with alternatives like "is ideally suited to" or "is most effectively done by" can enhance your writing style. Ludwig AI confirms the validity and common usage of the phrase. Remember to use it judiciously to maintain clarity and impact in your communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is optimally described as

Highlights that a description is the best possible.

is most effectively done by

Highlights the efficiency of a particular method.

is perfectly rendered as

Conveys that something is depicted in an ideal way.

is optimally achieved through

Focuses on the means by which something is best accomplished.

is suitably defined as

Focuses on providing an adequate or fitting definition.

is excellently illustrated by

Emphasizes the quality of an illustration or example.

is ideally suited to

Emphasizes the suitability of something for a particular purpose.

is preferably accomplished via

Indicates a preferred method for achieving a goal.

is appropriately addressed by

Suggests a suitable or fitting way to deal with something.

is most appropriately handled through

Suggests a suitable or fitting method to deal with a situation.

FAQs

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

Use "can best be" to suggest the most suitable or effective way to perform an action or describe something. For example, "The problem "can best be solved" through collaboration".

What are some alternatives to "can best be"?

You can use alternatives such as "is ideally suited to", "is most effectively done by", or "is optimally achieved through", depending on the specific context.

Is it always necessary to use "can best be", or are there times when it's implied?

While not always necessary, "can best be" adds clarity and emphasis when you want to explicitly state that a particular option is superior or more suitable than others. If the context makes it clear that there is one option better than the others, this phrase is implicit.

Which is correct: "can best be described as" or "is best described as"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct and acceptable, but "is best described" is more concise. "Can best be described as" is more emphatic, suggesting a stronger recommendation.