cannot afford to

USAGE SUMMARY

"cannot afford to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are discussing the inability to finance something. For example: "Sally cannot afford to buy a new car."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Morizo cannot afford to lose.

The Economist

We cannot afford to fail.

The Guardian - Opinion

"I cannot afford to, morally".

The New Yorker

FIFA cannot afford to filibuster.

The New York Times - Sports

Mr Koizumi cannot afford to sack her.

The Economist

Hedge funds cannot afford to be complacent.

The New York Times

We cannot afford to get it wrong.

The Economist

Yes: we cannot afford to be complacent.

Independent

Many such firms cannot afford to.

The Economist

A supplier cannot afford to ignore either.

The Economist

"We absolutely cannot afford to stand still".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "cannot afford to", clearly state what the subject cannot afford and why. This provides context and prevents ambiguity. For example: "The company cannot afford to delay the project any longer because of potential revenue losses."

Common error

Avoid using "cannot afford to" without specifying what is at stake. For example, instead of saying "We cannot afford to fail", be specific: "We cannot afford to fail in this crucial negotiation, as it could jeopardize the entire deal."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cannot afford to" functions as a modal verb phrase expressing a lack of ability or means to perform a specific action. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

86%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "cannot afford to" is a versatile and commonly used expression that conveys a limitation or inability to undertake a specific action, often due to financial constraints but also applicable to time, resources, or potential risks. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, and the examples illustrate its broad usage across diverse contexts, primarily in news and media, but also in formal business and scientific writing. While alternatives like "unable to" or "beyond one's means" exist, "cannot afford to" remains a direct and effective way to express a constraint.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

beyond one's means to

Indicates that something is outside of someone's financial capabilities.

cannot bear the cost of

Directly addresses the financial burden, emphasizing the expense involved.

cannot stand the expense of

Similar to 'cannot bear the cost', but emphasizes the burden of the expense.

prohibitively expensive to

Highlights that the cost is so high as to prevent the action, focusing solely on the financial aspect.

cannot manage to

Highlights the difficulty in achieving something, with less emphasis on the financial aspect.

cannot risk

Emphasizes the potential negative consequences as the reason for inaction, rather than just financial constraints.

unable to manage

Focuses on the lack of ability to handle something, highlighting difficulty rather than strict affordability.

not in a position to

Indicates a lack of capability to do something due to situational constraints, broader than just financial.

it's unfeasible to

Suggests the impracticality of something, focusing on feasibility over strict affordability.

it's impossible to

Indicates complete impossibility, which is a stronger statement than simply not being able to afford something.

FAQs

How can I use "cannot afford to" in a sentence?

Use "cannot afford to" to express the inability to do something, often due to financial reasons, but also due to other constraints like time or resources. For example, "The city "cannot afford to ignore" the rising sea levels."

What are some alternatives to "cannot afford to"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "unable to", "cannot bear the cost of", or "beyond one's means" to express a similar meaning.

When is it appropriate to use "cannot afford to"?

It's appropriate to use "cannot afford to" when you want to express that undertaking a certain action is impossible or highly undesirable due to limited resources or potential negative consequences. For instance, "The government "cannot afford to wait" to address climate change."

Is there a difference between "cannot afford to" and "can't afford to"?

No, "cannot afford to" and "can't afford to" are interchangeable. "Can't" is simply the contracted form of "cannot". Both express the same meaning and are grammatically correct, though "cannot afford to" may sound slightly more formal.