cannot afford

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cannot afford" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing a lack of financial means to purchase something or to take on a certain expense. Example: "I cannot afford to buy a new car right now due to my current financial situation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We cannot afford that".

The New York Times

Some cannot afford shoes.

The New York Times

Plants cannot afford fuel.

The New York Times

They cannot afford them.

The Economist

You cannot afford self-doubt".

The New Yorker

We cannot afford a third.

The New Yorker

They cannot afford sanitary pads.

The Economist

Bulgaria cannot afford prolonged wrangling.

The Economist

Morizo cannot afford to lose.

The Economist

But he cannot afford it.

The Guardian

So they cannot afford anything".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance impact, consider using "cannot afford" to emphasize not just financial limitations, but also potential consequences, such as "We "cannot afford" to delay action on climate change".

Common error

Avoid using "cannot afford" in situations where the limitation is not primarily financial. If the limitation is due to time, skills, or other factors, choose a more appropriate phrase like "unable to dedicate", "lack the expertise", or "not feasible".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cannot afford" functions as a verb phrase expressing the inability or lack of means to pay for, do, or sustain something. As evidenced by Ludwig, it's used to state a limitation or constraint.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Formal & Business

17%

Science

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "cannot afford" is a common and grammatically sound way to express a lack of financial means or the inability to sustain something. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. With a very common frequency, it appears predominantly in news and media contexts, with secondary usage in formal and business settings. When using "cannot afford", be specific about what is unaffordable and why, and avoid using it when the limitation is not primarily financial. Alternative phrases include "unable to pay for", "lack the funds for", and "beyond one's means".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unable to pay for

Focuses specifically on the monetary inability to cover the cost.

lack the funds for

Emphasizes the absence of necessary financial resources.

beyond one's means

Indicates that something is too expensive for someone's budget.

unable to manage the expense

Highlights the difficulty in handling the financial burden.

it's too costly

A direct and simple way of saying something is too expensive.

outside one's budget

Implies that something does not fit within the allocated financial plan.

can't stretch to

Suggests that one's financial resources are already strained.

in a position to purchase

Implies a temporary lack of resources, suggesting a future possibility of purchasing.

economically unfeasible

Describes something impractical or unsustainable due to cost.

financially unsustainable

Indicates that something cannot be maintained in the long term due to monetary constraints.

FAQs

What does "cannot afford" mean?

"Cannot afford" means lacking the financial resources to purchase something or cover an expense. It indicates a financial limitation.

What can I say instead of "cannot afford"?

You can use alternatives like "unable to pay for", "lack the funds for", or "beyond one's means" depending on the context.

How do I use "cannot afford" in a sentence?

Use "cannot afford" to express an inability to meet a cost, such as "I "cannot afford" a new car right now" or "The company "cannot afford" to ignore customer feedback".

Is it correct to say "can't afford" instead of "cannot afford"?

Yes, "can't afford" is a contraction of "cannot afford" and is perfectly acceptable in informal contexts. "Cannot afford" is more formal and suitable for professional writing.