cannot exceed

USAGE SUMMARY

"cannot exceed" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to a limit that is not allowed to be exceeded. For example, "The maximum number of students per classroom cannot exceed 27."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

-Indirect costs cannot exceed 10%.

Cornell University

The deductions cannot exceed total earned income.

The New York Times

Annual direct costs cannot exceed $170,000.

Columbia University

The operation string cannot exceed 1023 characters.

Harvard University

Junk bonds, however, cannot exceed 15percentt of assets.

The New York Times

The deductions cannot exceed total earned income for the year.

The New York Times

Tickets for single moving violations cannot exceed $350.

The New York Times

Unlike the proportion of connections, this figure cannot exceed 100%.

The Economist

Combined tuition and fees cannot exceed $5,000.

Columbia University

For example, the price of a two-bedroom house cannot exceed $153,000, and the price of a four-bedroom house cannot exceed $202,000.

The New York Times

In New York City, the combined annual income for households with three or more people cannot exceed $107,520, and the house price cannot exceed $637,640.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When setting limits, use "cannot exceed" to clearly establish an upper boundary that must not be passed. This promotes clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Ensure you're not accidentally using "must exceed" when you intend to set an upper limit. "Must exceed" implies a minimum requirement, the opposite of "cannot exceed".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cannot exceed" primarily functions as a limiter or restrictor. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and clearly indicates that a certain value or quantity should not be surpassed. It establishes a firm upper boundary.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Academia

24%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

13%

Encyclopedias

4%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "cannot exceed" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase that sets a strict upper limit. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread applicability. It is suitable for diverse contexts, particularly in academic, news, and scientific writing, where clarity and precision are essential. When using this phrase, ensure you clearly define the parameter that is being limited. Remember to avoid confusion with similar-sounding phrases that express opposite meanings. Alternative phrases like "is limited to" and "must not go over" can offer variety while maintaining the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

must not go over

Focuses on staying within a boundary, similar to a limit.

should not surpass

Implies a recommendation against exceeding a specific value.

may not be greater than

Highlights a permissible upper bound.

is limited to

Directly states a specific restriction.

must stay below

Emphasizes maintaining a value lower than a specified level.

is capped at

Specifies a firm upper limit that cannot be violated.

cannot go beyond

Indicates that something must not extend past a certain point.

should be less than or equal to

Suggests a value that should be at most a certain number.

is restricted to

Indicates that something is limited to specific conditions or values.

does not permit more than

Highlights the impermissibility of surpassing a specific quantity.

FAQs

How do I use "cannot exceed" in a sentence?

Use "cannot exceed" to specify an upper limit that should not be surpassed, as in "The budget "cannot exceed" $10,000".

What are some alternatives to "cannot exceed"?

You can use phrases like "is limited to", "must not go over", or "may not be greater than" to express similar restrictions.

Is it correct to say "cannot exceeds" instead of "cannot exceed"?

No, "cannot exceeds" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is ""cannot exceed"", as "exceed" is used in its base form after the modal verb "cannot".

What's the difference between "cannot exceed" and "must not exceed"?

While both phrases convey a restriction, ""cannot exceed"" is a direct statement of an upper limit, whereas "must not exceed" adds a sense of obligation or requirement to stay within the limit.