cannot be promised

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cannot be promised" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that a certain outcome or guarantee is not assured or cannot be guaranteed. Example: "While we strive to meet all deadlines, delivery by next week cannot be promised due to unforeseen circumstances."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Many of the surface treatments, especially organic treatments, are generally subjected to aging and weathering, and thus the long-term protection cannot be promised.

Construction and Building Materials

Others might be focussed on what can or cannot be promised, but he, in many ways the critical figure, is mostly focussed on speed.

The New Yorker

This means that the throughput guarantees cannot be promised within time-windows with a different duration or a different placement than that used by the algorithm.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Despite this outlet for participants, the possible therapeutic effect of an interview cannot be promised as a benefit, nor can it be the purpose of the interview.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Schools in Lebanon cannot cope and have been promised aid from international donors.

The Guardian - Business

And now a federal agency is telling you what doctors you can and cannot see when you were promised the exact opposite.

The Washington Post

The retirement benefits being promised today cannot be paid.

The New York Times

They may be looking for the salvation they were promised and cannot find.

WikiHow

They are simply not getting the income they were promised and now cannot afford food for their families," she said.

Independent

With our current tax system, we simply cannot pay what our citizens have been promised.

Forbes

In case of an exception (i.e. a customer order cannot be fulfilled as promised in the order schedule), a standard process is triggered to handle it collaboratively by business partners through fast, effective negotiations.

Journal of Manufacturing Systems

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "cannot be promised" when you want to be upfront about potential uncertainties or limitations. It is better to set realistic expectations from the start.

Common error

Avoid implying a guarantee when using this phrase. If you state something "cannot be promised", ensure that you do not inadvertently create an expectation of it happening anyway. Transparency is key.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cannot be promised" functions as a modal verb phrase, expressing an inability to provide assurance or a guarantee. As Ludwig AI highlights, it's used to set realistic expectations.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "cannot be promised" serves to express uncertainty or a lack of guarantee regarding a particular outcome. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and acceptable. While "cannot be promised" is not extremely common, it finds its place in various contexts, especially in news, scientific, and formal communications. When using this phrase, be mindful of setting clear and realistic expectations to avoid any misinterpretations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cannot be guaranteed

Replaces "promised" with "guaranteed", emphasizing the lack of assurance.

cannot be assured

Substitutes "promised" with "assured", highlighting the absence of certainty.

is not guaranteed

Uses a passive construction to express that a guarantee is absent.

is not assured

Similar to "is not guaranteed", but uses "assured" to convey a lack of certainty.

cannot be delivered

Focuses on the inability to fulfill a commitment or expectation.

is not certain

Indicates a lack of certainty or definiteness regarding a future outcome.

is not a certainty

Emphasizes that something is not a definite outcome.

is not something we can guarantee

Expresses inability to guarantee something, framing it as an explicit lack of warranty.

no guarantees can be made

Highlights the impossibility of making any assurances.

is subject to change

Indicates that something is liable to alteration or modification, and therefore not firmly promised.

FAQs

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

When something "cannot be promised", it means that there is no guarantee that it will happen or be delivered. It suggests uncertainty or potential limitations that prevent a firm commitment.

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

You can use alternatives like "cannot be guaranteed", "is not assured", or "is not certain" to convey a similar meaning.

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

You can use "cannot be promised" to indicate that an outcome is uncertain, for example, "While we will try our best, a specific delivery date "cannot be guaranteed"".

Is "cannot be promised" the same as "cannot be guaranteed"?

While similar, "cannot be promised" suggests a lack of a firm commitment, while "cannot be guaranteed" implies that there are factors preventing a certain outcome. They are largely interchangeable, but context may favor one over the other.