cannot be formulated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cannot be formulated" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing ideas, concepts, or problems that are too complex or unclear to be expressed in a specific way. Example: "The solution to this problem cannot be formulated without further research and analysis."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

42 human-written examples

However, certain phenolic substances are known which, although 'acetate-derived', cannot be formulated directly via a linear polyketide chain.

Nature

In general, the problem of designing a controller for polynomial discrete-time systems cannot be formulated as a convex problem.

IFAC Proceedings Volumes

In general, the problem of stabilising nonlinear discrete-time systems cannot be formulated as a convex problem.

Journal of the Franklin Institute

Since legal rules cannot be formulated to deal adequately with every possible contingency, their mechanical application can sometimes result in injustice.

Britannica

This principle makes it possible to deliver unstable or reactive active ingredients that cannot be formulated into traditional dosage forms.

Chemical Engineering Science

Nevertheless, there are some situations where expert knowledge cannot be formulated into precise words; what's worse, it might not be explicitly expressed in words.

Applied Soft Computing

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

18 human-written examples

While these cannot trivially be formulated as MapReduce, they are highly amenable to throughput computing.

Future Generation Computer Systems

However, this question cannot even be formulated mathematically unless infinitely many Xs can be defined on the same sample space, which in turn requires that the underlying experiment involve an actual infinity of coin tosses.

Encyclopedia Britannica

This is obviously not possible, so in a hierarchy like the Tarskian, these sentences cannot even be formulated.

SEP

This final version cannot even be formulated as a single problem for which an optimal mixed integer linear programming algorithm exists.

SEP

For derived categories, this is not surprising, since many fundamental results such as the Grothendieck-Serre Duality cannot even be formulated without using them.

Bulletin of Mathematical Sciences

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "cannot be formulated" when you want to express that something is inherently difficult or impossible to express in a precise or structured manner. Ensure the context clearly indicates what is preventing the formulation.

Common error

Avoid using "cannot be formulated" when simpler phrases like "cannot be expressed" or "cannot be defined" would suffice. The phrase is most effective when emphasizing a fundamental limitation in expressing a complex idea.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cannot be formulated" functions as a passive construction indicating an inability or impossibility to create or express something in a structured or defined way. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound and widely used. The examples show a prevalence in scenarios where precision is required, yet unattainable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

65%

Encyclopedias

15%

Academia

10%

Less common in

News & Media

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "cannot be formulated" is a phrase used to indicate that something is impossible to express in a clear or structured way. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used, especially in scientific and academic contexts. It's essential to consider the context and ensure that the complexity justifies the use of this particular phrase over simpler alternatives like "cannot be expressed" or "cannot be defined". Overusing this phrase in simple scenarios can sound pretentious or unnecessarily complex. The prevalence in authoritative sources such as Britannica and ScienceDirect underscores its acceptance in formal and scholarly writing. It is a valuable phrase to describe inherent limitations in articulation or creation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cannot be expressed

Focuses on the inability to articulate or communicate something.

cannot be defined

Highlights the lack of a clear and precise definition.

cannot be created

Emphasizes the impossibility of bringing something into existence.

cannot be established

Focuses on the failure to set up or prove something.

cannot be constructed

Highlights the inability to build or assemble something, often an argument or model.

cannot be devised

Emphasizes the inability to invent or plan something.

cannot be represented

Focuses on the impossibility of showing or depicting something accurately.

cannot be reduced

Highlights the inability to simplify something to a more basic form.

cannot be conceptualized

Focuses on the inability to form a clear idea or understanding of something.

cannot be put into words

Emphasizes the difficulty of expressing something verbally.

FAQs

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

Use "cannot be formulated" to indicate that an idea, plan, or concept is impossible to express clearly or precisely. For example, "An effective solution "cannot be formulated" without more data."

What are some alternatives to "cannot be formulated"?

You can use alternatives like "cannot be expressed", "cannot be defined", or "cannot be created" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "cannot be formulated" or "cannot be expressed"?

"Cannot be formulated" is suitable when emphasizing a lack of structure or precision in the expression, while "cannot be expressed" is more general and simply indicates an inability to convey something.

What does it mean when something "cannot be formulated"?

It means that the idea, concept, or problem is too complex, vague, or inherently resistant to being put into a clear, structured, or precise form.