cannot be determined from

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cannot be determined from" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that a conclusion or result cannot be inferred or derived from the information provided. Example: "The exact cause of the issue cannot be determined from the data we have collected."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

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

SOH, therefore, cannot be determined from a single direct measurement.

Nature

It cannot be determined from the information given.

The New York Times

It's possible, but cannot be determined from the study design".

The New York Times - Health

For example, spatial variations cannot be determined from datasets with just one station.

Ecological Indicators

However, whether those unique genotypes are indicative of distinct species typically cannot be determined from rRNA information alone.

Britannica

"But the actual purpose of this excavation activity cannot be determined from the image and bears watching".

The New York Times

How closely he was followed abroad cannot be determined from his blacked-out file, but passport photographs that he had supplied were duplicated there.

The New Yorker

In which position is Noah? A. first B. second C. third D. fourth E. cannot be determined from the information given.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "cannot be determined from", ensure that the reason for indeterminacy is clear to the reader. Briefly explain why the information is insufficient or the methodology is flawed.

Common error

Avoid using "cannot be determined from" when a reasonable estimation or approximation is possible. If some insight can be gained, even if not definitive, acknowledge that instead of dismissing the data entirely.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cannot be determined from" serves as a declarative statement indicating that a conclusion or specific information cannot be derived or ascertained based on the available data or source. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

56%

News & Media

25%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "cannot be determined from" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to express that a conclusion or specific information is unattainable from the provided data. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It is most prevalent in scientific, academic, and news contexts, indicating the inability to derive insights from a given source. While versatile, it's crucial to use the phrase accurately, avoiding overstatements of indeterminacy when reasonable estimations are possible. Alternatives like "cannot be inferred from" or "cannot be concluded from" may offer nuanced substitutions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cannot be ascertained based on

Replaces "determined" with "ascertained" and "from" with "based on", slightly altering the structure while maintaining the core meaning.

cannot be concluded based on

Substitutes "determined" with "concluded" and "from" with "based on", focusing on the inability to draw a conclusion.

cannot be inferred from

Replaces "determined" with "inferred", emphasizing the lack of ability to deduce information.

cannot be deduced from

Similar to 'inferred from', "deduced" suggests a logical conclusion that is unattainable from the given data.

is not possible to determine from

Rephrases the sentence to emphasize the impossibility of determination.

the data does not allow determining

Shifts the focus to the limitations of the data itself.

the information is insufficient to determine

Highlights the lack of sufficient information as the reason for indeterminacy.

there is no way to know from

Uses more informal language to convey the impossibility of knowing based on the provided source.

it's impossible to say based on

An even more informal and direct way of expressing the inability to determine.

the source provides no basis for determining

Focuses on the source's lack of foundation for making a determination.

FAQs

How can I use "cannot be determined from" in a sentence?

Use "cannot be determined from" to indicate that the available information does not allow a definitive conclusion. For example, "The exact cause of the malfunction "cannot be determined from" the current data."

What are some alternatives to "cannot be determined from"?

Alternatives include "cannot be inferred from", "cannot be concluded from", or "cannot be ascertained from", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

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

"Cannot be determined from the data" is generally preferred because it emphasizes the limitations of the data in providing an answer. "The data cannot determine" is grammatically correct but less common and can sound awkward.

What is the difference between "cannot be determined from" and "cannot be distinguished from"?

"Cannot be determined from" means that information is insufficient to find an answer, while "cannot be distinguished from" means that two or more things appear too similar to identify differences.