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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
can found
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "can found" is not correct and usable in written English. It should be replaced with "can be found" or "can find." Example: "You can find the information in the report." Alternative expressions include "may discover" and "are able to locate."
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
News & Media
Science
Wiki
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
59 human-written examples
Tickets availability can found here.
News & Media
A schedule and other information can found at symphonyspace.org.org
News & Media
They can found in distant Oklahoma, where about 1,300 members live near Red Rock.
News & Media
Universal stories can found everywhere - it is how we tell them that counts.
News & Media
Pollan's's own eating manifesto can found in his most famous and least-heeded lines: "Eat food.
News & Media
He said if something acceptable to Azerbaijani President Aliyev can found, then "we can move" the protocols forward.
News & Media
Here's a selection of Eisenstaedt's photographs — most of which can found in "The Great Life Photographers," newly released in paperback — along with Baker Burrows's comments.
News & Media
A guide on how to do this can found here, while Netpol's solicitor, Rosa Curling of the Leigh Day law firm, is on hand to help.
News & Media
Many two- or three-bedroom town houses can found for $400,000 to $500,000, Ms. Hackney said, and they tend to sell quickly.
News & Media
A purer version of the gnostical ideology of authenticity can found in the biggest grossing movie of all-time in America, James Cameron's 2009 epic, "Avatar".
News & Media
Otherwise it had been a flowing, even but incident-lacking derby until Emre Can found Lallana inside the penalty area and the boyhood Evertonian went down under a touch from Holgate.
News & Media
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Reserve the phrase "can found" exclusively for contexts where you mean 'to establish' or 'to set up' an institution, company or colony.
Common error
A common mistake involves using the past tense 'found' immediately after the modal 'can' instead of the base verb 'find'. In English, modal verbs must be followed by the infinitive without 'to', so write "can find" if the subject is performing the action.
Source & Trust
87%
Authority and reliability
2.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "can found" consists of the modal auxiliary verb 'can' followed by the verb 'found'. In standard English grammar, 'can' is followed by the base form of a verb. While 'found' is the past tense of 'find', it is also a base verb meaning 'to establish'. Ludwig indicates that while the latter is grammatically valid, the phrase is frequently used incorrectly in place of the passive "can be found".
Frequent in
Science
45%
News & Media
35%
Wiki
10%
Less common in
Formal & Business
5%
Academia
3%
Reference
2%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
The analysis from Ludwig AI reveals that "can found" is a linguistic outlier. While it appears frequently in highly authoritative sources like The New York Times and various scientific journals, it is most often a grammatical slip for "can be found". However, it remains perfectly correct when used to describe the act of establishing an entity, such as a colony or a company. Writers should be cautious: if you are referring to the location of a file or a place to visit, always use the passive 'be found' to ensure your prose remains professional and clear.
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
can be found
Correct passive voice construction for locating something
can find
Active voice equivalent using the base verb form
may be found
More formal variation of the passive location phrase
could be found
Conditional or past-possibility form of the location phrase
is available
Common alternative when referring to information or items
can establish
Clearer alternative for the legitimate meaning of starting a company
can start
Simpler synonym for founding a new organization or colony
can discover
Synonym for active finding with a nuance of first-time encounter
are located
Focuses on the physical placement of an object or group
can originate
Alternative used when describing where a concept or item begins
FAQs
Is it correct to say "can found"?
In most cases, no. It is usually a mistake for ""can be found"". However, it is correct if you mean having the ability to establish something, such as in "only the wealthy can found a hospital".
What is the difference between "can find" and "can be found"?
Use ""can find"" when the subject is the one doing the searching. Use ""can be found"" when you are focusing on the object that is available or located somewhere.
What can I say instead of "can found"?
Depending on your context, you can use ""can be found"", "can establish", or "is available".
Why does "can found" appear in academic journals?
While Ludwig shows many instances in scientific sources, these are often translation errors or typos where the author intended to write ""can be found"" but omitted the word 'be'.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
87%
Authority and reliability
2.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested