cannot be reliable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cannot be reliable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the trustworthiness or dependability of something, indicating that it fails to meet reliability standards. Example: "The data collected from this source cannot be reliable due to inconsistencies in the methodology."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

When we are out of range, past examples cannot be reliable guides to the future.

The New York Times

Certainly, ingestion tests with standard sands cannot be reliable proxies for the thermal risk of volcanic ash in turbines.

Journal of Applied Volcanology

If model discrimination analysis indicates that a model should be rejected, as in the case of model A, the distribution of metabolic fluxes obtained with such a model cannot be reliable.

BMC Systems Biology

Molluscan diversification has been widely assumed to originate from a basal "monoplacophoran" bauplan [ 59], although early single shelled molluscs cannot be reliable separated from gastropods or any nonmonoplacophoran univalve [ 70].

BioMed Research International

Although the FIBTEM® assay specifically attributes the impact of fibrinogen/fibrin on clot strength by inhibiting platelets through cytochalasin-D [ 19], the FIBTEM® assay cannot be reliable used with porcine blood [ 20].

Critical Care

The contribution of our current work is to consider a challenging situation where we are dealing with a small number of observed exposure measurements and between-group contrast is small and the quasi-Berkson model cannot be reliable.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

However, we did not use this method because data gathered from differently-sized striatal territories cannot really be reliable compared.

Plosone

Due to these failures alone, the government's predictive judgments cannot be considered reliable," Sageman told the court on Friday.

The Guardian

A single carbon-14 date of 5725 ± 110 bc from Toome Bay, north of Lough Neagh, for woodworking and flint has been cited in support of a Mesolithic phase in Ireland, but such a single date cannot be considered reliable.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Clearly, in CLL problems, some data cannot be absolutely reliable, e.g., one can hardly believe that the demand for a product is exactly known.

Journal of Industrial Engineering International

Unlike the terrestrial scenarios, on-demand flooding cannot be both reliable and efficient due to widespread collisions caused by the large propagation delay.

Ad Hoc Networks

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "cannot be reliable", clearly state the reason for the lack of reliability to provide context and strengthen your argument. For example, "The survey results cannot be reliable because the sample size was too small."

Common error

Avoid using "cannot be reliable" when a weaker phrase like "may not be entirely accurate" is more appropriate. Overstating unreliability can undermine your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cannot be reliable" functions as a descriptor indicating that something lacks the quality of being trustworthy or dependable. Ludwig AI indicates that this is a correct and usable phrase in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

29%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "cannot be reliable" is used to express a lack of trustworthiness or dependability. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and applicable in many situations. It appears most frequently in scientific and news contexts, suggesting a neutral to formal register. When using this phrase, ensure you provide clear reasoning for the expressed doubt. Alternative phrases like "cannot be trusted" or "is not dependable" can be used depending on the specific context and nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cannot be trusted

Focuses on a lack of trust rather than reliability.

cannot be depended upon

Emphasizes the inability to rely on something.

is not dependable

A more direct statement of a lack of dependability.

is not trustworthy

Highlights the absence of trustworthiness.

is questionable

Indicates doubt about the reliability.

is uncertain

Emphasizes a lack of certainty in the reliability.

is dubious

Suggests a suspicious or doubtful reliability.

is not a safe bet

Implies a risk associated with relying on something.

is open to doubt

Highlights that reliability can be questioned.

is subject to error

Focuses on the possibility of mistakes affecting reliability.

FAQs

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

When something "cannot be reliable", it means it's not consistently accurate or dependable. You shouldn't depend on it to be correct or to function as expected.

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

You can use "cannot be reliable" to express doubts about the accuracy, dependability, or validity of something. For example: "The witness's testimony "cannot be reliable" due to conflicting statements."

Which is a better choice, "cannot be reliable" or "is unreliable"?

"Cannot be reliable" and "is unreliable" are very similar. "Is unreliable" is more direct, while "cannot be reliable" might be used when explaining why something lacks reliability.

What are some alternatives to saying "cannot be reliable"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "cannot be trusted", "is not dependable", or "is questionable" as alternatives to "cannot be reliable".