cannot be regulated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cannot be regulated" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you want to express that something is beyond control or oversight, often in legal, economic, or technical discussions. Example: "Due to its decentralized nature, cryptocurrency cannot be regulated by any single government."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Indeed, while the U2932 model expresses an endogenous BCL2 protein, in the E μ-myc/Bcl-2 model, Bcl-2 gene is ectopically expressed under the control of a constitutively active promoter (CMV) that cannot be regulated by any transcriptional regulator, including BRD4.

Cell Death and Disease

Human nature cannot be regulated.

The New York Times

Integrity, however, cannot be regulated.

The Guardian - Business

The industry's conflicts cannot be regulated away.

The Economist

It cannot be regulated by a board of directors.

The Guardian

Capitalism cannot be regulated at arms length – it needs to be domesticated at source.

The Guardian - Opinion

The slights, sometimes petty, sometimes cruel, that afflict any community cannot be regulated by the law.

The Guardian - Opinion

In California, bake sales are waning because ingredients cannot be regulated.

The New York Times

Precisely because the drugs market is illegal, it cannot be regulated.

The Economist

Thoughts cannot be regulated; everyone has a right to think what they wish without government intrusion.

The New York Times

It's hard to imagine that they could hold that carbon emissions cannot be regulated under the Clean Air Act.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing complex systems or abstract concepts, use "cannot be regulated" to clearly indicate inherent limitations in control or governance.

Common error

Avoid using "cannot be regulated" when you actually mean "is difficult to regulate." The former implies an impossibility, while the latter suggests a challenge.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cannot be regulated" functions as a passive verb phrase. It's utilized to express the inherent impossibility or extreme difficulty of controlling or governing something. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "cannot be regulated" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to convey the impossibility or extreme difficulty of controlling or governing something. Ludwig AI affirms its validity. It appears most often in News & Media and Science contexts, suggesting its relevance in discussions about complex systems, abstract concepts, and inherent limitations. Alternatives like "is beyond regulation" or "is ungovernable" can provide nuanced variations. When using this phrase, ensure it accurately reflects an inherent inability to regulate, rather than merely a challenge in doing so. This distinction is crucial for maintaining clarity and precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is beyond regulation

Focuses on exceeding the limits of regulatory power.

is not subject to control

Highlights the absence of control mechanisms.

is ungovernable

Emphasizes the inability to govern or manage.

is unmanageable

Suggests difficulties in managing or handling something.

is beyond the reach of authority

Implies that something is outside the jurisdiction or power of an authority.

is uncontrollable

Highlights the lack of control or restraint.

is not amenable to regulation

Indicates a resistance or unsuitability for regulatory measures.

is immune to control

Suggests a resistance or invulnerability to control.

escapes regulation

Highlights the act of avoiding or circumventing regulation.

is outside the regulatory framework

Emphasizes that something falls outside established regulatory systems.

FAQs

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

Use "cannot be regulated" to describe something inherently outside the scope of control or governance, such as "Due to its decentralized nature, cryptocurrency "cannot be regulated" by any single government".

What are some alternatives to "cannot be regulated"?

Alternatives include "is beyond regulation", "is not subject to control", or "is ungovernable" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say something "cannot be regulated", or is there a better phrasing?

The phrasing "cannot be regulated" is correct and widely accepted. The best phrasing depends on context; alternatives might emphasize difficulty or inappropriateness rather than impossibility.

What's the difference between "cannot be regulated" and "is difficult to regulate"?

"Cannot be regulated" implies an inherent inability to control something, while "is difficult to regulate" suggests that control is possible but challenging. The first implies impossibility, the second implies a hurdle.