cannot be held

USAGE SUMMARY

"cannot be held" is a perfectly valid phrase in written English.
You can use it to express an impossibility, as in "My meeting cannot be held due to the bad weather."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It cannot be held back".

The Guardian

IDs cannot be held as collateral.

Columbia University

They cannot be held at a distance.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

*Multiple fellowships cannot be held concurrently.

Princeton University

Politicians cannot be held entirely responsible.

The Guardian

Goldman cannot be held responsible for other's bad bets.

The New Yorker

But it cannot be held in protective custody forever".

The Economist

Someone who is incompetent cannot be held accountable.

The New Yorker

After all, leaders cannot be held to perfection in execution.

Harvard Business Review

He, alone, cannot be held to have blocked the sidewalk.

Cornell University

Hence, Defendant cannot be held vicariously liable for McCoy's actions.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "cannot be held", ensure the context clearly indicates what or who is being absolved of responsibility or obligation. For example, "The company cannot be held liable for damages resulting from misuse of the product."

Common error

Avoid using "cannot be held" without clearly defining the scope of responsibility. For instance, saying "The government cannot be held responsible" is vague; specify which actions or outcomes they are not responsible for to prevent misinterpretations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cannot be held" functions primarily as a passive construction to negate responsibility or liability. This is evident in Ludwig's examples where entities, such as companies or individuals, are explicitly stated as not bearing responsibility for certain actions or outcomes. Ludwig AI confirms its validity in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Academia

27%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "cannot be held" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression for disclaiming responsibility or liability. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is valid and can be used to express an impossibility. It is especially common in news, academic and scientific writing. While alternatives exist, each carries subtle differences in meaning. Remember to specify the scope of responsibility when using this phrase to prevent misunderstandings. The high frequency and diverse contexts of "cannot be held" underscore its significance in clearly defining accountability, making it crucial across various professional and formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cannot be deemed responsible

Emphasizes the lack of responsibility or accountability, implying a formal judgment or assessment.

cannot be considered liable

Focuses on the legal aspect of responsibility, indicating an absence of legal obligation.

cannot be regarded as accountable

Highlights the lack of accountability, suggesting a more general or societal perspective.

cannot be attributed to

Shifts the focus to causation, indicating that something cannot be caused or explained by a particular factor.

cannot be pinned on

Implies an attempt to assign blame or responsibility, which is unsuccessful.

cannot be burdened with

Indicates that someone or something should not be subjected to a particular responsibility or obligation.

cannot be subjected to

Suggests that someone or something is exempt from a particular process or treatment.

cannot be forced to

Highlights the lack of compulsion or obligation to perform a certain action.

cannot be compelled to

Similar to "cannot be forced to", but emphasizes a more formal or legal context.

cannot be made to

Indicates the impossibility of coercing someone or something into a particular state or action.

FAQs

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

The phrase "cannot be held" indicates a lack of responsibility or accountability. For example, "The website "cannot be held responsible" for user-generated content."

What's a formal alternative to "cannot be held"?

In formal contexts, consider using phrases like "cannot be deemed liable" or "cannot be considered accountable" as alternatives to "cannot be held".

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

When something "cannot be held", it signifies that it cannot be restrained, contained, or considered responsible for something. The exact meaning depends on the context.

Is it better to say "cannot be held responsible" or "is not responsible"?

Both phrases are valid, but "cannot be held responsible" often implies a legal or formal context where accountability is being explicitly disclaimed. "Is not responsible" is a more general statement of non-responsibility. For example "The company "is not responsible" for..."