cannot be isolated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cannot be isolated" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where something is interconnected or dependent on other factors, making it impossible to separate it from those factors. Example: "In this complex system, certain variables cannot be isolated without affecting the overall outcome."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Nafta's effects cannot be isolated from the broader changes in a globalizing economy.

The New York Times

"It cannot be isolated from a broader rethinking of the E.U.," they wrote.

The New York Times

But this cannot be isolated from supporting the whole family unit.

The Guardian - Opinion

As a man of this century, I cannot be isolated by these problems".

The New York Times

The parent thiocarbonyl compound, thioformaldehyde (CH2=S), is extremely reactive and cannot be isolated.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The thrill of improvisation is precisely that it cannot be isolated from the risk of mere looniness or doodling.

The New Yorker

They do not contain DNA or RNA and cannot be isolated with techniques developed to find those substances.

The New York Times

"A country of 176 million people cannot be isolated," said Marco Aurélio Garcia, the foreign policy adviser to Mr. da Silva, "and if a country has a solid alliance with Argentina, South Africa and India, even less so".

The New York Times

"There is a public interest in a patient being cured, because your right to cough and sneeze on someone else ends when you have a dangerous communicable disease and you cannot be isolated otherwise," Dr. Frieden said at the time.

The New York Times - Health

It goes on to note that lower wage, lower skill workers face a multitude of other barriers that are much more complex than unfamiliarity with ICTs, and that "ICT literacy cannot be isolated from larger social and personal contexts.

The Guardian

While the campaign to end FGM cannot be isolated from the emancipation of women and girls, campaigners need to assure very traditional and religious communities that stopping the practice is not the first step towards binge drinking on Saturday nights.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "cannot be isolated" when you want to emphasize that something is deeply interconnected and dependent on other factors, making it impossible to consider in isolation. For example: "The impact of social media cannot be isolated from broader societal trends".

Common error

Avoid using "cannot be isolated" in situations where a simpler phrase like "cannot be separated" or "is connected to" would suffice. Overusing complex phrasing can make your writing sound unnecessarily convoluted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cannot be isolated" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that a particular subject is inherently interconnected with other elements and therefore, incapable of being considered or treated separately. This usage is validated by the examples from Ludwig, highlighting its role in emphasizing inseparability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

31%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "cannot be isolated" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression that signifies the inherent inseparability of a subject from its surrounding context. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used across various domains, particularly in science, news, and formal business settings, to emphasize interconnectedness. When writing, ensure this phrase fits the context, avoiding overuse in simpler scenarios where alternatives like "cannot be separated" might suffice. Remember to consider the implications of interconnection when employing this phrase to enhance clarity and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cannot be separated

Focuses on the inability to divide or distinguish elements.

cannot be detached

Highlights the impossibility of disconnecting or removing something.

cannot be divorced

Emphasizes the strong connection that prevents elements from being treated separately.

cannot be distinguished

Stresses the difficulty in perceiving or treating elements as distinct.

cannot be disconnected

Highlights that components are linked and reliant on each other.

cannot be understood in isolation

Specifies that understanding requires considering the broader context.

cannot be viewed independently

Indicates that elements are interdependent and should not be considered alone.

cannot be treated as a standalone issue

Frames the phrase in terms of a problem that requires broader consideration.

is inextricably linked

Emphasizes an unbreakable connection between elements.

is part of a bigger picture

Highlights the broader context and integration with other elements.

FAQs

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

When something "cannot be isolated", it means it's so interconnected or dependent on other factors that it's impossible to consider it separately. It emphasizes the inseparable nature of the subject from its context.

What can I say instead of "cannot be isolated"?

You can use alternatives like "cannot be separated", "cannot be detached", or "cannot be divorced" depending on the specific context.

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

Use "cannot be isolated" to express that a subject's effects, causes, or nature are inseparable from other elements. For example: "The success of the project cannot be isolated from the team's collaborative efforts."

Is it correct to say "cannot isolate" instead of "cannot be isolated"?

While "cannot isolate" might be grammatically correct in some contexts, it shifts the focus to the inability to perform the action of isolating. "Cannot be isolated" emphasizes the inherent inseparability of the subject itself.