cannot be treated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cannot be treated" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing something that is unable to receive treatment or intervention, often in medical or metaphorical contexts. Example: "Certain conditions, such as advanced Alzheimer's disease, cannot be treated effectively with current medical therapies."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

They cannot be treated differently".

The Guardian - Sport

The undiagnosed clearly cannot be treated.

Independent

Hackgate cannot be treated in isolation.

The Guardian - Opinion

It cannot be treated with palliatives.

The New York Times

It cannot be treated simply as a neutral statement.

The Guardian

And though less deadly than malaria, dengue fever cannot be treated with medicine.

The New York Times - Science

The virus is not harmful to humans and cannot be treated with antibiotics.

The New York Times

What we need is the recognition that bees cannot be treated as another industrially produced commodity.

The Guardian

The law now says those people cannot be treated as second-class Europeans any longer.

The Guardian

They reinforce each other, he said, and so cannot be treated in isolation.

The New York Times

And war criminals, after all, cannot be treated like regular criminals.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "cannot be treated" in medical contexts, specify the limitations of current treatments rather than making generalizations about a condition's untreatability. For example, instead of stating "this disease cannot be treated", say "this disease cannot be effectively treated with current therapies".

Common error

Avoid using "cannot be treated" to suggest complete hopelessness. Even if a condition lacks a cure, supportive care or symptom management can still improve quality of life. Acknowledge these aspects to provide a more balanced and realistic perspective.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cannot be treated" functions as a passive construction indicating the inability to apply a treatment or intervention effectively. Ludwig's examples illustrate this in medical contexts (e.g., diseases, infections) and metaphorical scenarios (e.g., social issues, problems).

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "cannot be treated" is a versatile expression used to denote the ineffectiveness of available treatments or interventions for a particular condition or problem. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used across various domains, including science, news, and formal writing. While it's important to use the phrase accurately and avoid overstating untreatability, it serves as a clear and direct way to communicate limitations and challenges. Related phrases like "is not amenable to treatment" or "defies intervention" can offer nuanced alternatives depending on the specific context. Remember that even if something "cannot be treated", efforts to manage symptoms or provide supportive care may still be valuable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is not amenable to treatment

Focuses on the lack of responsiveness to treatment.

is unresponsive to therapy

Specifically indicates a lack of reaction to therapeutic methods.

is not manageable

Highlights the difficulty in controlling or handling a situation.

is beyond remedy

Emphasizes the absence of a solution or cure.

cannot be resolved

Highlights the impossibility of resolving an issue.

defies intervention

Stresses the resistance to any form of intervention or action.

is intractable

Emphasizes the stubborn and unyielding nature of a problem.

is uncorrectable

Highlights the impossibility of fixing or correcting a problem.

is not solvable

Focuses on the inability to find a solution to a problem.

cannot be helped

Indicates a situation where assistance is ineffective.

FAQs

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

You can use "cannot be treated" to describe conditions or situations that are not responsive to current methods. For example, "This infection cannot be treated with common antibiotics" or "Some social issues cannot be treated with simple solutions".

What are some alternatives to "cannot be treated"?

Alternatives include "is not amenable to treatment", "is unmanageable", or "defies intervention" depending on the specific context. Using "is not amenable to treatment" suggests the subject does not respond to available treatments. "Is unmanageable" focuses on the difficulty of controlling the situation and "defies intervention" refers to resistance to any action.

Is it always accurate to say something "cannot be treated"?

It's important to be precise. While a condition might not have a cure, palliative care or other interventions may still improve quality of life. Consider specifying what "cannot be effectively treated" to avoid misleading implications.

What's the difference between "cannot be treated" and "cannot be cured"?

"Cannot be treated" suggests that current methods are ineffective in addressing a condition, while "cannot be cured" specifically indicates the absence of a means to eliminate the condition entirely. A disease "cannot be cured", it may still be treatable to manage symptoms.