cannot be located

USAGE SUMMARY

"cannot be located" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is usually used to indicate that someone or something is not able to be found. For example: "The missing document cannot be located."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And "most of the school's data on pupils' past performance cannot be located", added the report.

The Guardian

The police file cannot be located and the investigating officer is now dead.

The Guardian

Under city regulations, a video arcade cannot be located within 200 feet of a public school.

The New York Times

"If the parents cannot be located, we will take protective custody of them tonight," Mr. Delmar said.

The New York Times

Stealth planes absorb the radar signals and so cannot be located in this way.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Nuclear deterrence is simply not credible against terrorists who cannot be located or welcome death.

The New York Times

Perkin was a revered scientist 100 years ago; now his burial plot in a country cemetery cannot be located.

The New York Times - Books

Catania's amendment states a dispensary cannot be located within 1,000 feet of a school or youth center.

The Washington Post

In cases in which children cannot be located, the order calls for the use of "extraordinary measures" to find the children.

The New York Times

If specific visual examples cannot be located, students may create examples they would want to see in an art exhibit about their assigned person.

The New York Times

The new law allows health officials access to all homes, and public and private buildings, even if the property's owner cannot be located.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "cannot be located" in formal writing, ensure the context clearly indicates what efforts have been made to find the missing entity. For example, "Despite extensive searches, the original manuscript cannot be located."

Common error

While grammatically correct, "cannot be located" can sound overly formal in casual conversation. In informal settings, consider using simpler alternatives such as "can't be found" or "is missing".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cannot be located" functions as a passive construction indicating the inability to find someone or something. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

30%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

9%

Encyclopedias

8%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "cannot be located" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that signifies the inability to find something or someone. Ludwig AI confirms this. It's commonly found in various contexts, especially in news, science, and formal documents. While it is suitable for professional and neutral registers, it can be replaced with simpler terms like "can't be found" in informal conversations. Remember to use it thoughtfully, ensuring the surrounding context clearly indicates what attempts have been made to find the missing entity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is unable to be found

Replaces "cannot be located" with synonyms "unable" and "found", maintaining the core meaning of something missing.

is not able to be found

Slightly more verbose than "is unable to be found", but retains the same semantic meaning as the original phrase.

cannot be found

A shorter and more direct version of the original phrase, omitting "located" for brevity without changing the core meaning.

is untraceable

Replaces "cannot be located" with a single word that conveys the same inability to find something.

is irretrievable

Similar to "untraceable", this single word emphasizes the impossibility of retrieving or finding something.

is nowhere to be found

Emphasizes that an item or person is completely missing from all possible locations.

has gone missing

Indicates that something or someone was present before but is now absent and its location is unknown.

is lost

A simple and direct way of saying that something's location is unknown.

is misplaced

Suggests the item was put in the wrong place and is, therefore, not findable.

is unaccounted for

Indicates that something is missing from a list or inventory.

FAQs

What does "cannot be located" mean?

The phrase "cannot be located" means that something or someone is missing and it is not possible to find them.

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

You can use alternatives like "is unable to be found", "cannot be found", or "is missing" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "cannot be located" or "cannot be found"?

"Cannot be located" and "cannot be found" are both correct, but "cannot be located" is more formal. Choose the option that suits the context of your writing.

How to use "cannot be located" in a sentence?

You can use "cannot be located" to describe a physical item (The keys cannot be located) or a person (The suspect cannot be located).