cannot be rectified

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cannot be rectified" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a situation or problem is beyond repair or cannot be corrected. Example: "The errors in the report are so significant that they cannot be rectified without starting over."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

Umpires therefore are reluctant to make close line-calls precisely because they cannot be rectified if wrong.

The Guardian - Sport

She said the twins had been born "children of mixed race by a mistake which cannot be rectified".

Independent

The squandering of experienced staff when they were induced to leave the service, coupled with lower numbers on the frontline, cannot be rectified overnight.

The Guardian

It is related to Stoicism — a too-neglected philosophy nowadays — and it's related, emotionally more than logically, to the idea of water under the bridge, which reminds us that the past cannot be rectified.

The New Yorker

The debt cycle ends in deleveraging because there is a "shortage of capable providers of capital and/or a shortage of capable recipients of capital (borrowers and sellers of equity) that cannot be rectified by the central bank changing the cost of money".

The Economist

Therefore, testability deficiencies in the design cannot be rectified.

Acta Astronautica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

Some mistakes cannot be undone, but they can be rectified.

The New York Times

It is just that reasoners relying solely on necessary and sufficient definitions will likely miss many of these nonalignments because ontologically valid definitions cannot be created, and it is desirable that as many of these nonalignments as possible be rectified.

Bioinformatics

This cannot, of course, have been the intention of those who invented the junior professorship and must, at all costs, be rectified.

Science Magazine

This must be rectified.

The New York Times

Mistakes can never be rectified.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "cannot be rectified" when you want to emphasize that a situation or mistake is impossible or extremely difficult to correct, often due to its nature or consequences.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "cannot be rectified" can sound overly formal in casual conversation. Opt for simpler alternatives like "can't be fixed" in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cannot be rectified" functions as a predicate in a sentence, indicating that the subject is in a state where it is impossible to correct or repair something. Ludwig confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "cannot be rectified" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to indicate that something is impossible to correct or repair. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is correct and suitable for formal written English. While common in News & Media and Science contexts, it's important to consider the formality of the situation and choose simpler alternatives when appropriate. Remember that this phrase is often used to express a sense of finality regarding the possibility of correction.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cannot be corrected

Replaces "rectified" with the more common synonym "corrected".

cannot be fixed

Uses the simpler term "fixed" for "rectified", making it slightly more informal.

is irreparable

Shifts the structure to use the adjective "irreparable".

is beyond repair

Emphasizes the state of being unrepairable.

cannot be remedied

Replaces "rectified" with "remedied", focusing on providing a solution.

is irreversible

Highlights the inability to reverse the situation.

cannot be undone

Focuses on the inability to reverse the action.

is unfixable

A more informal way of saying something cannot be fixed.

is not salvageable

Implies that the situation is too far gone to be saved.

cannot be retrieved

Suggests that something is lost and unrecoverable.

FAQs

What does "cannot be rectified" mean?

The phrase "cannot be rectified" means something is impossible or extremely difficult to correct or repair. It suggests the situation is beyond fixing.

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

You can use alternatives like "cannot be corrected", "cannot be fixed", or "is irreparable" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "cannot be rectified"?

It's appropriate to use "cannot be rectified" in formal writing or when emphasizing the impossibility of correcting a situation. It's common in legal, technical, or serious contexts.

Is "cannot be rectified" the same as "cannot be repaired"?

While similar, "cannot be rectified" often implies a mistake or error that cannot be set right, whereas "cannot be repaired" suggests physical damage that cannot be fixed. Both indicate an unchangeable state.