cannot be encouraged

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cannot be encouraged" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is not advisable or should not be promoted or supported. Example: "In this situation, reckless behavior cannot be encouraged, as it poses a risk to everyone's safety."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

But readers cannot be encouraged to read poetry well if their choices and tastes are treated patronizingly.

The New York Times

"Rooftop travel is illegal in India and it cannot be encouraged," the minister, Dinesh Trivedi, told Agence France-Presse.

The New York Times

If the banks cannot be encouraged to offer low-fee accounts for young and lower-income customers, the government might consider creating postal savings accounts for small savers.

The New York Times

Looking to start the new year with a fresh start cannot be encouraged more than with the TomTom Spark 3 GPS Fitness watch from Tomtom.com.

The Guardian - Sport

States cannot be encouraged to supplement the international law of state immunity with their own pick and mix patchwork of domestic rules on justiciability".

The Guardian

Iraqis worried about the future of their country cannot be encouraged by what they see in Afghanistan, America's first effort at nation-building in the Islamic world.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

But if you think that matters of greater substance might command more than 56percentt of the Council's voting energy, the pattern cannot be encouraging.

The New York Times

That cannot be encouraging for Capriati to hear; she has lost seven straight matches, including a number of close ones, to Williams.

The New York Times - Sports

And it cannot be encouraging to church leaders that for all the talk about Catholic politicians leaving the church, taking communion elsewhere or simply defying the bishops, there has yet to be a single elected official who has dropped his or her support for abortion because of the archbishop's letter.

The New York Times

In spite of these problems, one cannot help but be encouraged by the results of a study that was done early in the course of implementing DBS and that shows continued improvement for patients as long as 10 years following implantation.

Alzheimer's Research and Therapy

Fourth, the use of continuous behavioural measures, though always to be encouraged, cannot seriously alter a distorting effect rooted in the fundamental architecture of lesions that are naturally careless of their behavioural consequences.

Brain

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "cannot be encouraged", ensure that the context clearly explains why the action or behavior is undesirable. Providing reasons strengthens the message and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "cannot be encouraged" without providing a clear rationale. Simply stating that something should not be encouraged without explaining why can weaken your argument and leave the reader unconvinced.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cannot be encouraged" functions as a passive construction used to express disapproval or prohibition of a specific action or behavior. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's used to indicate that something is not advisable or should not be promoted.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "cannot be encouraged" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express discouragement or prohibition. As Ludwig AI indicates, it suggests something is not advisable and should not be promoted or supported. Its usage spans various contexts, from news and media to scientific publications, with a neutral to formal tone. While alternatives like "should not be promoted" or "must not be supported" exist, "cannot be encouraged" carries a more direct sense of prohibition. When employing this phrase, ensure clarity and provide justification to strengthen your argument.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

should not be promoted

Replaces "cannot be encouraged" with a direct suggestion against promotion.

must not be supported

Emphasizes a stronger prohibition against providing support.

is not advisable

Indicates that the action is not recommended due to potential negative consequences.

is not recommended

Similar to 'is not advisable' but focuses on the lack of endorsement.

is to be discouraged

Directly suggests action to prevent or dissuade the behavior.

should be avoided

Focuses on the act of preventing something from happening.

is unacceptable

Indicates a stronger stance of disapproval or prohibition.

is forbidden

States a clear prohibition, often by rule or law.

lacks endorsement

Highlights the absence of approval or support.

is not sanctioned

Implies that official permission or approval is missing.

FAQs

What does "cannot be encouraged" mean?

The phrase "cannot be encouraged" means something should not be promoted, supported, or approved. It implies that the action or behavior is undesirable and should be avoided.

What are some alternatives to "cannot be encouraged"?

You can use alternatives like "should not be promoted", "must not be supported", or "is not advisable" depending on the context.

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

Use "cannot be encouraged" to express disapproval or discouragement of an action. For example: "In this situation, reckless behavior "cannot be encouraged", as it poses a risk to everyone's safety."

Is it better to say "should not be encouraged" or "cannot be encouraged"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "cannot be encouraged" expresses a stronger sense of prohibition. "Should not be encouraged" is a milder form of discouragement.