cannot allocate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cannot allocate" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in contexts related to resource management, such as memory allocation in programming or distributing resources in project management. Example: "The system cannot allocate enough memory to run the application efficiently."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

For eight samples, SSAHA2 failed to produce results and generated the messages error: memory allocation failed cannot allocate memory or error: "memory allocation for array of fasta structures failed cannot allocate memory".

Bioinformatics

Moreover, they cannot allocate profit flexibly unless the supplier has a large enough working capital.

Omega

When a company has a single class of shares, it cannot allocate voting power to informed and engaged investors.

Columbia University

"Currently, Ofcom cannot allocate phone numbers in which the first digit after the area code is 0 or 1 (for example, 01274 012 345 or 01274 123 456).

The Guardian - Tech

On a 32 bit machine, you cannot allocate 2GB of RAM, probably you should try with -Xmx1800m, but this amount of memory is a bit marginal.

Stanford University

Arts Council England refused to fund the first festival in 1981 on the grounds that "we cannot allocate subsidy for a festival whose programme is composed predominantly of appearances by foreign companies".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

We cannot simply allocate the data chunk to the vehicle where it has the best possibility since there are storage bound.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Criteria for inclusion in this study were; (i) the manuscript had to specifically state the size of the transcript or (ii) show a figure of the transcript with size markers to enable an estimate to be made and (iii) not be a member of a multigene family (often cannot reliably allocate transcript to specific ORF).

BMC Genomics

This policy tries cross isozones for MAS allocation if the requested MASs cannot be allocated to one isozone of an SF.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Although genetic variants cannot be allocated randomly as part of an experiment they are allocated randomly at conception (Davey Smith 2006; Davey Smith et al. 2005).

Human Genetics

Under US law, federal funds cannot be allocated for abortion.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "cannot allocate", ensure the context clearly indicates what resource or item is impossible to distribute or assign. For example, "The system "cannot allocate" enough memory" is clearer than simply, "The system "cannot allocate".

Common error

Avoid using "cannot allocate" in overly broad or vague contexts. Be specific about what cannot be allocated and why. For example, instead of saying "The budget "cannot allocate" funds," specify, "The budget "cannot allocate" sufficient funds for marketing due to current constraints."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cannot allocate" functions primarily as a verbal phrase expressing the inability to assign, distribute, or designate resources or items. Ludwig AI indicates its correct usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "cannot allocate" is a grammatically sound and usable expression to denote the inability to assign or distribute something, as validated by Ludwig AI. While "cannot allocate" is relatively uncommon, appearing mostly in scientific and news contexts, it remains versatile across both formal and informal registers. Alternatives such as "unable to assign" or "incapable of distributing" can be used depending on the desired nuance. When using "cannot allocate", it's important to be specific about the resource that cannot be allocated and the reason behind it to ensure clarity and avoid vagueness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unable to assign

Replaces "cannot allocate" with a synonym that emphasizes the lack of ability to assign something.

incapable of distributing

Uses "incapable" and "distributing" to convey a stronger sense of inability and the act of distribution.

not able to provide

Focuses on the inability to provide something, shifting the emphasis from allocation to provision.

cannot provide

A shorter alternative to "not able to provide".

unable to furnish

Replaces "allocate" with "furnish", suggesting an inability to supply or equip.

not in a position to allocate

Emphasizes the lack of appropriate circumstances to allocate.

prohibited from allocating

Indicates that allocation is not allowed, often due to rules or laws.

restricted from assigning

Similar to "prohibited", but suggests a limitation rather than a complete ban.

cannot set aside

Focuses on the inability to reserve or earmark something.

unable to apportion

Replaces "allocate" with "apportion", which is similar, but specifically refers to distribute proportionally.

FAQs

How can I use "cannot allocate" in a sentence?

You can use "cannot allocate" to describe a situation where something is impossible to assign or distribute. For example, "The server "cannot allocate" additional resources due to memory limitations".

What's a formal alternative to "cannot allocate"?

In formal contexts, consider using "unable to assign" or "incapable of distributing" as alternatives to "cannot allocate".

Is it better to use "cannot allocate" or "is not able to allocate"?

"Cannot allocate" is generally more concise and preferred in most contexts. "Is not able to allocate" is grammatically correct, but it's wordier. Using "cannot allocate" tends to be clearer and more direct.

What does it mean when a system "cannot allocate" memory?

When a system "cannot allocate" memory, it means that there isn't enough available memory to fulfill a request, leading to errors or system instability.