cannot be retrieved

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cannot be retrieved" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It typically means that something cannot be recovered or regained. Example: The deleted files from the computer cannot be retrieved, as they were permanently erased.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Once confiscated, large dogs cannot be retrieved.

The New York Times

Mr. Sklarow disagreed that a hard drive must be destroyed to ensure that its data cannot be retrieved.

The New York Times

The process of migration grows more complicated when the information that is transferred cannot be retrieved or used without specific software.

The New York Times - Tech

A copy of the key to a given apartment is locked inside a metal compartment and cannot be retrieved without a code.

The New York Times

The story, set in the Han dynasty (third century B.C ., could not be simpler, and its moral gave rise to the Chinese proverb "Poured water cannot be retrieved".

The New York Times - Arts

A policeman explains that the registration document for Mr Laki's car cannot be retrieved because the bureaucrat in charge of such files is on leave.Delay follows delay.

The Economist

While the money put into the Fidelity fund cannot be retrieved for personal use, donors can decide how it should be invested, when they want to contribute some or all of it to a nonprofit group and which groups they will donate to.

The New York Times

As the former secretary of state for Northern Ireland who helped negotiate the historic 2007 settlement, I believe it is no answer to pursue prosecutions for Troubles-related crimes, especially when in 90% of these cases going back 40 years or more, the evidence cannot be retrieved.

The Guardian

So heavily has meaning accumulated that we experience the death also as her pal Jimmy's; as Ireland's; as all the thousands in the famine; as the death of Kathleen's mother; of romance; and as the loss of everything that cannot be retrieved in our own lives from the cruelly indifferent passage of time.

The Guardian - Books

What's more, the messages are not stored on any internal TigerText servers, so they cannot be retrieved once they expire.

TechCrunch

Soil samples cannot be retrieved during the operation of these tests.

International Journal of Geo-Engineering

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "cannot be retrieved" when emphasizing the impossibility of recovering something lost or inaccessible. This phrase is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, providing a clear and direct way to communicate irretrievability.

Common error

Avoid using "cannot be retrieved" when a weaker term like "difficult to find" or "hard to access" would be more accurate. The phrase implies a definitive impossibility, so ensure the context warrants such a strong assertion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cannot be retrieved" functions as a passive construction indicating the impossibility of recovering or accessing something. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct. The examples in Ludwig illustrate its use across diverse scenarios where something is definitively lost or inaccessible.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

54%

News & Media

38%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "cannot be retrieved" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase signifying the definitive impossibility of recovering or accessing something. As Ludwig AI states, it is appropriate for formal and informal contexts, although it appears most often in scientific and news-related content. Alternatives include "is irretrievable" or "cannot be recovered". When using this phrase, ensure the context genuinely reflects a permanent state of irretrievability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is irretrievable

Emphasizes the impossibility of retrieval, often due to loss or damage.

cannot be recovered

Focuses on the inability to get something back to its original state or possession.

cannot be regained

Highlights the loss of something and the impossibility of getting it back.

is unrecoverable

Similar to 'irretrievable', suggesting a state of being beyond recovery.

cannot be accessed

Focuses on the inability to gain entry or use something.

is beyond reach

Suggests that something is unattainable or inaccessible.

cannot be restored

Indicates the impossibility of returning something to a previous condition.

is lost forever

Emphasizes the permanent nature of the loss.

cannot be obtained

Highlights the inability to acquire or get something.

is permanently lost

Focuses on the enduring state of being lost, emphasizing the lack of hope for recovery.

FAQs

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

You can use "cannot be retrieved" to describe data, objects, or information that are permanently lost or inaccessible. For example: "The deleted files from the damaged hard drive cannot be retrieved."

What are some alternatives to "cannot be retrieved"?

Alternatives include "is irretrievable", "cannot be recovered", or "is unrecoverable". The best choice depends on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "cannot be retrieved" or "cannot be recovered"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct and convey a similar meaning. "Cannot be retrieved" emphasizes the inability to access or regain something, while "cannot be recovered" focuses on the impossibility of restoring something to its original state. The choice depends on the specific context.

What does "cannot be retrieved" imply about the state of something?

The phrase "cannot be retrieved" implies that something is permanently lost, inaccessible, or irreparably damaged. It suggests a definitive end to the possibility of recovering or regaining that item.