cannot be spread

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cannot be spread" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you want to indicate that something is unable to be disseminated or distributed. Example: "The virus cannot be spread through casual contact, which is why the risk of transmission is low."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

Ebola cannot be spread as some parents have suggested.

The Guardian

It cannot be spread from person to person.

The New York Times

"The Islamists' ideology cannot be spread without destroying culture," he said.

The New Yorker

It cannot be spread from person-to-person and is rarely fatal.

The Guardian - Travel

The infection is not contagious and so cannot be spread from person to person.

The Guardian - Business

It cannot be spread from one person to another, but is fatal in 10-15% of patients.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

(Incidentally, if you labour under similar misconceptions, HIV cannot and will not be spread by sharing glasses).

Vice

(Incidentally, if you labor under similar misconceptions, HIV cannot and ​will not be spread by sharing glasses). .

Vice

(Incidentally, if you labour under similar misconceptions, HIV cannot and ​will not be spread by sharing glasses). .

Vice

"It is not true, and our state's economy cannot bear this misinformation to be spread throughout the nation and the world".

The New York Times

It is critical information in Turkmenistan, where many women cannot even identify how HIV is spread.

Unicef

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase to correct misinformation. For example: "Despite some rumors, the disease "cannot be spread" through the air."

Common error

Avoid using "cannot be spread" when you actually want to emphasize the cause. For instance, instead of saying "Misinformation cannot be spread without social media", a clearer statement might be "Social media enables the spread of misinformation".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cannot be spread" functions primarily as a passive construction, indicating that something is incapable of being disseminated or transmitted. As Ludwig AI states, it's a grammatically correct phrase suitable for various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "cannot be spread" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to indicate the inability of something to be disseminated or transmitted. Ludwig AI validates its correctness. Its prevalence across contexts like news, science, and general knowledge highlights its versatility. When using the phrase, focus on clarity and avoid confusing it with causation. By understanding its nuances and using it correctly, you can effectively communicate the absence of spread or transmission in various scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cannot be transmitted

Replaces "spread" with the more formal term "transmitted".

cannot be disseminated

Substitutes "spread" with "disseminated", suggesting a wider distribution.

cannot propagate

Uses "propagate" which implies a natural spreading or reproduction.

cannot be passed on

Replaces "spread" with the more informal phrase "passed on".

cannot be communicated

Emphasizes the lack of communication or conveyance.

cannot extend

Implies a limitation on the expansion or reach of something.

cannot proliferate

Suggests that something is unable to rapidly increase in number.

cannot circulate

Focuses on the inability of something to move freely within a system.

is not infectious

Focuses more on the state of being unable to cause infection, rather than the act of spreading.

does not diffuse

Uses a scientific term for spreading to indicate lack of dissemination.

FAQs

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

You can use "cannot be spread" to indicate that something is not transmissible or communicable. For example: "The rumor "cannot be spread" if no one repeats it."

What are some alternatives to "cannot be spread"?

Alternatives include "cannot be transmitted", "cannot be disseminated", or "is not contagious", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "cannot be spread" or "is not spreading"?

"Cannot be spread" indicates an inherent inability to be transmitted, while "is not spreading" describes a current lack of dissemination. The best choice depends on the intended meaning.

In what context is "cannot be spread" commonly used?

It's frequently used in medical or scientific contexts to explain how diseases or misinformation are not transmitted, or in business contexts to describe aspects such as costs or certain practices that are not scalable.