cannot be clear

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cannot be clear" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing something that lacks clarity or is ambiguous. Example: "The instructions provided cannot be clear, as they leave out crucial details."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

"I cannot be clear enough about this: everybody thought Dirty Dancing was just a piece of teenage junk," the charmingly chatty Bergstein tells me.

The Guardian - Film

Our assessment demonstrates that while we cannot rule out the possibility of neonicotinoids affecting pollinators we cannot be clear as to the extent of their impact.

The Guardian

Similarly, we cannot be clear on the effect of climate change.

Unicef

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

I cannot be clearer than that".

The Guardian

"But without a commission, this situation cannot be cleared up.

The New York Times

Without it, the wreck of the world that was, cannot be cleared away and the new world shaped".

The New York Times

The freezing of the banking system also means that securities trades cannot be cleared, so the stock market remains closed.

The New York Times

People are paid good money to dissect the minutiae of lineouts that go wrong, scrummages that turn and rucks that cannot be cleared.

The Guardian - Sport

Under the current system, protected native vegetation cannot be cleared unless the change improves the overall biodiversity values of the land.

The Guardian

A group of geographically disparate friends find their online video chat augmented by a troll whose threateningly blank Skype profile cannot be cleared from their collective screens.

The Guardian - Film

Motor vehicles, household fuel, and a concentration of industries generate atmospheric pollution, which cannot be cleared away, because of the effect of surrounding mountains and limited precipitation.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "cannot be clear" when you want to express that something is inherently unclear or impossible to make clear, often due to complexity or lack of information.

Common error

Avoid using "cannot be clear" as a vague statement. Instead, specify why something lacks clarity. For example, instead of saying "The policy cannot be clear", explain, "The policy cannot be clear because the wording is ambiguous".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cannot be clear" functions as a statement of impossibility. It indicates that something is inherently lacking in clarity or is impossible to make clear. Ludwig provides examples where this phrase is used to express uncertainty or ambiguity.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "cannot be clear" is grammatically correct but relatively rare. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and suggests its function is to express impossibility or inherent ambiguity. It appears in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science. Alternatives include "cannot be understood" or "cannot be ascertained". When using "cannot be clear", ensure you specify why something lacks clarity, avoiding vague statements.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cannot be clearer

Expresses the impossibility of making something more understandable.

cannot be unambiguous

Replaces "clear" with its antonym's negative form, maintaining the meaning.

cannot be definite

Highlights the absence of a definitive quality.

cannot be unequivocal

Similar to "unambiguous" but emphasizes a lack of reservation.

cannot be clearly understood

Focuses on the lack of understanding from the audience's perspective.

cannot be certain

Shifts the focus to a lack of certainty instead of clarity.

cannot be evident

Emphasizes the lack of obviousness rather than clarity.

cannot be straightforward

Highlights the complexity or difficulty in understanding.

cannot be ascertained

Indicates that something is impossible to determine or find out.

cannot be sure

Expresses a lack of certainty about something.

FAQs

When is it appropriate to use "cannot be clear" in a sentence?

Use "cannot be clear" when you want to convey that something is inherently difficult or impossible to understand. For example, "The source code "cannot be clear" without extensive documentation".

What phrases are similar to "cannot be clear"?

Alternatives include "cannot be understood", "cannot be ascertained", or "cannot be certain" depending on the intended nuance.

Is "cannot be clear" grammatically correct?

Yes, "cannot be clear" is grammatically sound. It follows the standard structure of a negative modal verb construction.

How does "cannot be clear" differ from "is not clear"?

"Cannot be clear" implies a more fundamental or inherent lack of clarity, suggesting that the thing in question is essentially unclarifiable. "Is not clear" is a more general statement about a current state of ambiguity.