cannot be determined

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'cannot be determined' is a valid and usable part of speech in written English.
It is used when the outcome or answer to a given question is uncertain. For example, "Exact time of arrival cannot be determined until after the flight has been booked."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The order of composition cannot be determined.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Truth cannot be determined by majority vote, he says.

The Guardian

The beneficiaries of the remaining 8% cannot be determined.

The Guardian

The return of good fortune cannot be determined".

The Guardian - Travel

b e. Cannot be determined from given information.

The New York Times

How that works cannot be determined from Whitehall.

The Guardian - Opinion

This cannot be determined from the centre, she says.

The Guardian

Ms. Sancova said, "The final decision cannot be determined in terms of time exactly".

The New York Times - Arts

If that intent cannot be determined, he said, the ballot must be rejected.

The New York Times

Whether the terrorists deliberately chose large jets and counted on the fire damage cannot be determined.

The New York Times

"The scope of the presumed data transfer cannot be determined," LGT said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "cannot be determined" when the available information is insufficient to reach a conclusion. Ensure the context clearly indicates what cannot be determined and why.

Common error

Avoid using "cannot be determined" when the information is simply difficult to obtain, but not impossible. Opt for phrases like "difficult to ascertain" or "not easily determined" instead to better reflect the actual degree of uncertainty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cannot be determined" functions as a modal expression of uncertainty. It indicates that a particular fact, outcome, or value is impossible to ascertain based on available information. Ludwig AI confirms its validity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

47%

News & Media

39%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "cannot be determined" is a versatile phrase used to express that something is impossible to ascertain with the available information. As Ludwig AI points out, it's grammatically correct and commonly used across various contexts, particularly in scientific and news domains. While semantically similar phrases like "cannot be ascertained" or "remains unknown" can be used as alternatives, it's important to select the most appropriate option based on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Remember to avoid overstating uncertainty and use the phrase judiciously, ensuring the context clearly indicates what cannot be determined and why. "Cannot be determined" reflects a lack of knowledge or an inherent impossibility of finding something out.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cannot be ascertained

Replaces "determined" with a synonym that emphasizes the difficulty in finding something out.

cannot be established

Focuses on the impossibility of proving or setting something up definitively.

cannot be discovered

Highlights the failure to find or learn something through investigation.

cannot be known

Emphasizes the lack of knowledge or awareness regarding something.

remains unknown

Indicates that something continues to be without knowledge or discovery.

is not clear

Emphasizes the ambiguity or lack of clarity surrounding a particular issue.

is impossible to know

Highlights the absolute impossibility of gaining knowledge about something.

cannot be figured out

More informal, focuses on the inability to solve or understand something.

is undeterminable

Uses an adjective form to describe something that inherently resists determination.

is unascertainable

Synonymous to undeterminable, more formal adjective.

FAQs

What does "cannot be determined" mean?

The phrase "cannot be determined" indicates that it is impossible to find something out, establish something definitively, or solve something based on the information available. In short, the answer is unknown.

What can I say instead of "cannot be determined"?

You can use alternatives like "cannot be ascertained", "cannot be established", or "remains unknown" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "cannot be determined" or "cannot determine"?

"Cannot be determined" is typically used when referring to a passive situation where something is inherently impossible to find out. "Cannot determine" is used when referring to an active situation where someone or something lacks the ability to determine something.

How do I use "cannot be determined" in a sentence?

Use "cannot be determined" when expressing that a particular piece of information or outcome is impossible to know or establish with the available data. For example, "The exact cause of the accident "cannot be determined" without further investigation".