cannot be identified

USAGE SUMMARY

"cannot be identified" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when something can't be identified definitively or confidently. For example: "The cause of the crash cannot be identified."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

An attacker who cannot be identified cannot be threatened.

The New York Times

For one thing, it cannot be identified as national literature.

The New Yorker

Under the ground rules for the briefing, the official cannot be identified.

The New York Times

"But it's frustrating that the rest of the problems cannot be identified".

The New York Times

The man, referred to in court only as P, cannot be identified.

The Guardian

Modernity cannot be identified with any particular technological or social breakthrough.

The New Yorker

The contours of a new system cannot be identified overnight or imposed on anyone.

The Guardian - Opinion

Under Spanish custom, the spokesmen, who spoke by telephone, cannot be identified.

The New York Times - Sports

What use is a fit-and-proper-person test for incoming owners who cannot be identified?

The Guardian - Sport

The apostles cannot be identified because they are not portrayed with their symbols.

The New York Times - Arts

Obviously, those inside the country cannot be identified for fear of retribution.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "cannot be identified" when the subject's identity or nature is genuinely impossible to ascertain with the available information or methods.

Common error

While "cannot be identified" is grammatically correct, avoid overuse of passive voice. In some cases, consider restructuring the sentence to use an active voice if the actor is known or implied for more direct and engaging writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cannot be identified" primarily functions as a passive construction, indicating that the subject is unable to be recognized or determined. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's a grammatically sound and usable expression.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

48%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "cannot be identified" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to indicate the impossibility of determining something's identity or origin. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for written English. Predominantly found in scientific and news contexts, as well as business communication, this passive construction serves to convey uncertainty or a lack of conclusive information. Alternatives include "is unidentifiable" and "cannot be determined". While widely accepted, writers should be mindful of passive voice overuse, opting for more direct constructions when appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is unidentifiable

Replaces the passive voice with a direct adjective, focusing on the state of being impossible to identify.

cannot be determined

Shifts focus to the process of determination rather than identification, emphasizing the inability to ascertain something.

is impossible to ascertain

Emphasizes the impossibility of confirming or establishing something with certainty.

remains unknown

Highlights the lack of knowledge about something, focusing on the state of being unknown.

cannot be recognized

Focuses on the inability to recognize something, whether visually or conceptually.

defies recognition

More emphatic, suggesting something actively resists being recognized or understood.

is not discernible

Focuses on the lack of clarity or distinctness, making it impossible to perceive or distinguish something.

escapes detection

Highlights the fact that something avoids being found or noticed, often implying a deliberate effort to remain hidden.

eludes classification

Indicates something cannot be neatly categorized or assigned to a specific group.

is beyond comprehension

Indicates that something is impossible to understand.

FAQs

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

Use "cannot be identified" when you want to express that something or someone's identity or characteristics are impossible to determine. For example, "The source of the leak "cannot be identified" without further investigation."

What are some alternatives to "cannot be identified"?

You can use alternatives like "is unidentifiable", "cannot be determined", or "remains unknown" depending on the specific context and nuance you wish to convey.

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

"Cannot be identified" implies an impossibility to identify, while "is not identified" simply states that something has not been identified, without necessarily implying it's impossible. The best choice depends on whether you want to emphasize the impossibility or simply the lack of identification.

What is the difference between "cannot be identified" and "cannot be recognized"?

"Cannot be identified" suggests an inability to determine the specific identity or nature of something. "Cannot be recognized" suggests an inability to recall or acknowledge something known previously. For example, a person's face "cannot be recognized" after plastic surgery, but the source of a mysterious sound "cannot be identified".