cannot be exaggerated

USAGE SUMMARY

"cannot be exaggerated" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It's typically used to emphasize the importance or significance of something. For example, "The impact of a good teacher on a student's life cannot be exaggerated."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

Judge said: "The gravity of gun crime cannot be exaggerated.

The Guardian

The importance of the Qumrān scrolls cannot be exaggerated.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The importance of Alfred's victory cannot be exaggerated.

Encyclopedia Britannica

His importance in those years cannot be exaggerated.

Independent

The audacity of Marie-Madeleine Fourcade (code name "Hedgehog") cannot be exaggerated.

The Washington Post

The depth of Palestinian public concern over prisoners cannot be exaggerated.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

And the partisan lockstep of the radio gabbers cannot possibly be exaggerated.

Huffington Post

Pyongyang's specific claims – this time, that it is an H-bomb – may be exaggerated, but we cannot be complacent.

The Guardian - Opinion

Mr Poroshenko's figure may be exaggerated, but big rebel attacks cannot happen without Kremlin support.

The Economist

The present squad cannot compare with Mourinho's group but their inferiority can be exaggerated.

The Guardian - Sport

Success should not be exaggerated.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "cannot be exaggerated" when you want to strongly emphasize the significance or impact of a particular fact, event, or quality. Ensure the context clearly warrants such strong emphasis.

Common error

Avoid using "cannot be exaggerated" for minor or everyday situations. The phrase carries a strong sense of importance, so reserve it for genuinely significant topics to maintain its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cannot be exaggerated" functions as an intensifier, used to emphasize the significant impact or importance of a particular subject. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a usable phrase. The examples provided by Ludwig illustrate its use in various contexts to highlight critical aspects.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Encyclopedias

13%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "cannot be exaggerated" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to strongly emphasize the significance or impact of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is suitable for use in written English. It is predominantly found in news and media contexts, as well as encyclopedias and scientific publications. When using this phrase, it is vital to reserve it for genuinely impactful topics to maintain its emphasis. Alternatives like "cannot be overstated" or "of utmost importance" can be used for variety. The phrase serves to communicate that the true magnitude of the subject is difficult to fully capture or express.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cannot be overstated

This alternative is a direct synonym, focusing on the inability to overstate the importance of something.

cannot be overestimated

This alternative highlights the idea that the value or impact of something is so great it's impossible to overestimate.

of utmost importance

This alternative uses a more descriptive phrase to express a high degree of importance.

critically important

This alternative emphasizes the critical nature and necessity of something.

highly significant

This alternative focuses on the high level of significance or consequence.

extremely crucial

This alternative uses 'crucial' to convey the essential nature of something.

paramount

This alternative is a single word emphasizing the supreme importance of something.

vitally important

This alternative underscores the vital and necessary aspect of something.

of great magnitude

This alternative focuses on the substantial scale or impact of something.

cannot be minimized

This alternative focuses on the idea that the importance of something should not be decreased.

FAQs

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

Use "cannot be exaggerated" to emphasize the significance of something. For example, "The importance of early childhood education "cannot be exaggerated"."

What are some alternatives to "cannot be exaggerated"?

You can use alternatives like "cannot be overstated", "cannot be overestimated", or "of utmost importance" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it more appropriate to use "cannot be exaggerated" or "cannot be overstated"?

Both phrases are suitable and nearly interchangeable. "Cannot be exaggerated" implies that the impact or scale is immense, while "cannot be overstated" emphasizes that one cannot express the importance enough through words.

What does "cannot be exaggerated" imply about the subject?

Using the phrase ""cannot be exaggerated"" suggests that the subject's importance, impact, or significance is so great that any attempts to amplify it would still fall short of its true value.