cannot be affected

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cannot be affected" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is immune to influence or change. Example: "The results of the experiment cannot be affected by external factors if conducted in a controlled environment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The advantage is that weightings cannot be affected by investor behaviour.

The Economist

Success will mean that their vital Division A status cannot be affected until after Fiba makes its decision in 2011.

The Guardian - Sport

There is no way that team cannot be affected after blowing a 30-7, fourth-quarter lead to the Jets.

The New York Times - Sports

Some believe reading is on a higher cognitive plane, a process that cannot be affected by factors such as nutrition.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

These rights cannot be affected during the marriage by any transaction of the owner-spouse without the other's consent.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Because the information about the image is not localized, it cannot be affected by scratches or dust particles.

Encyclopedia Britannica

While both internal computing systems share the hardware, the Internet computer is in contact only with "components that cannot be affected by malicious software".

The New York Times

There must be new tax revenues in the mix so that the wealthy bear a share of the burden and Medicare cannot be affected.

The New York Times

Ninety percent of Americans cannot be affected by genetic discrimination, either because they get health coverage in ways that do not allow health risks to be considered (Medicare, Medicaid, employer coverage) or because they can't afford health insurance at all.

The New York Times

The resulting bipolar transistor proved much more reliable than the point-contact one: in the bipolar transistor, as in all modern transistors, the vital junctions between the n-and p-layers are buried deep within the semiconductor crystal where they cannot be affected by their surroundings.There is a final twist to the story.

The Economist

"The rules of logic cannot be affected by physical experience".

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing scientifically or technically, use "cannot be affected" to describe the invulnerability of a variable or result to external influence, thus reinforcing the rigor of your method.

Common error

Avoid using "cannot be affected" in excessively simple sentences where a more direct verb would suffice. For example, instead of "the color cannot be affected by sunlight", consider "the color is resistant to sunlight".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cannot be affected" functions primarily as part of the passive voice construction, indicating that a subject is incapable of being influenced or changed by an external agent. This is evidenced by Ludwig and its examples, where the phrase appears in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

30%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Social Media

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "cannot be affected" is a grammatically correct and frequently used construction in English, as confirmed by Ludwig. It serves to emphasize the invulnerability or stability of a subject against external influence. Appearing most often in scientific, news, and encyclopedic contexts, it maintains a formal register. Alternatives such as "remains unaffected" or "is immune to" offer similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis. When using this phrase, clarity and conciseness are key. Ludwig’s analysis reinforces that "cannot be affected" is best suited for situations where permanent resistance or stability needs to be conveyed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

remains unaffected

Changes the verb phrase while keeping the core meaning of being unchanged by something.

is immune to

Implies a resistance or protection against something, similar to being unaffected.

is resistant to

Suggests a capacity to withstand the effects of something.

is impervious to

Emphasizes the inability of something to penetrate or influence.

is not influenced by

Focuses on the lack of influence from external factors.

is beyond the reach of

Indicates something is unattainable or cannot be impacted.

is shielded from

Suggests a protective barrier preventing influence.

is independent of

Highlights the lack of dependency or correlation.

is unmodifiable by

Emphasizes the inability to be changed or altered by a specific agent.

eludes the impact of

Suggests an avoidance or escape from the effects of something.

FAQs

How can I use "cannot be affected" in a sentence?

Use "cannot be affected" to indicate that something is immune to influence or change. For example, "The experiment's results "cannot be affected" by external factors if conducted in a controlled environment."

What are some alternatives to saying "cannot be affected"?

Alternatives include phrases like "remains unaffected", "is immune to", or "is resistant to" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "cannot be affected" or "is not affected"?

"Cannot be affected" implies a more inherent or permanent resistance, while "is not affected" can suggest a current state that might change. The choice depends on the intended emphasis.

How does "cannot be affected" differ from "unaffected"?

"Cannot be affected" is a more emphatic and explicit way of stating that something is not influenced or changed. "Unaffected" is a shorter, more direct adjective describing the same state.