cannot exclude the hypothesis that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cannot exclude the hypothesis that" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you want to indicate that a particular hypothesis remains a possibility among other options. Example: "In our analysis, we cannot exclude the hypothesis that external factors may have influenced the results."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Because the GKO is null for cyp79b2 and cyp79b3, we cannot exclude the hypothesis that S. flava performance and transcriptional phenotypes tested on the GKO mutant are due in part to the absence of camalexins.

Genome Biology and Evolution

On the basis of these preliminary results, we therefore cannot exclude the hypothesis that individual preferences may be socially transmitted within study plots.

Plosone

In spite of that, we cannot exclude the hypothesis that NRE could function as a reservoir for unliganded TR, which would be readily available to act as a repressor when T3 is present.

Plosone

However, we cannot exclude the hypothesis that albicidin biosynthesis genes were lost during evolution of X. fastidiosa.

BMC Genomics

We cannot exclude the hypothesis that stimulation of a systemic reaction is part of the adaptation to training.

BMC Veterinary Research

Although patients with relatively low SCr have been included in our study, we cannot exclude the hypothesis that patient with pre-existing chronic kidney disease, have been included.

BMC Nephrology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Given that the subintestinal plexus forms relatively late, as opposed to the primary intersegmental vessels that are only minimally affected by the lack of circulation, we cannot exclude the possibility that the second hypothesis is correct.

Development (Cambridge)

Although neither the potential study participants nor the interviewers knew our study hypotheses, we cannot exclude the possibility that study participation would be influenced by general health knowledge including healthy dietary habits.

British Journal of Cancer

Although a single previous study supports this hypothesis [ 2], we cannot exclude the possibility that the interaction between intake of fruit and vegetables and mortality from cardiovascular disease observed in this study is a chance finding.

Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source

Our analysis does not support the hypothesis that the decline in Capercaillie numbers is due to changes in the forest age structure, but we cannot exclude the possibility that other factors behind the decline may have interacted with forestry in general.

Biological Conservation

We cannot exclude the possibility that the central 'purpose' of network formation is not one of the currently considered hypotheses; but we anticipate that quantitative modelling approaches will also be powerful tools in analysing any future hypotheses.

BioEssays

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "cannot exclude the hypothesis that" to acknowledge a possibility that should be considered, especially when presenting research findings or discussing potential explanations.

Common error

Avoid using "cannot exclude the hypothesis that" when stronger evidence suggests the hypothesis is likely true. Reserve it for situations where genuine uncertainty remains.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cannot exclude the hypothesis that" functions as a hedge or qualifier. It acknowledges a hypothesis as a potential explanation without fully endorsing it. As Ludwig AI confirms, the expression is grammatically sound and appropriate for various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

70%

Academia

20%

News & Media

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "cannot exclude the hypothesis that" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression, primarily found in scientific and academic contexts. It serves as a qualifier, acknowledging a hypothesis as a potential explanation without definitively confirming it. As shown by Ludwig, this phrase is suitable for situations where uncertainty exists and further investigation is warranted. While alternatives like "cannot rule out the possibility that" exist, the original phrase maintains its usefulness in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cannot dismiss the hypothesis that

Replaces "exclude" with "dismiss", suggesting a lack of consideration.

cannot rule out the hypothesis that

Uses "rule out" instead of "exclude", implying a decision against rejecting the hypothesis.

the hypothesis that cannot be excluded

Reorders the sentence structure while maintaining the core meaning.

we cannot disregard the hypothesis that

Substitutes "exclude" with "disregard", emphasizing the importance of the hypothesis.

it is possible that the hypothesis is true

Expresses the possibility of the hypothesis being correct.

the hypothesis remains a viable option

Focuses on the viability of the hypothesis.

the data does not preclude the hypothesis that

Indicates that the data doesn't prevent the hypothesis from being true.

the hypothesis is still under consideration

Highlights the ongoing evaluation of the hypothesis.

the possibility of the hypothesis remains

Emphasizes that the hypothesis is a remaining possibility.

we have not disproven the hypothesis that

States that the hypothesis has not been proven false.

FAQs

How do I use "cannot exclude the hypothesis that" in a sentence?

Use "cannot exclude the hypothesis that" to express that a particular hypothesis remains a plausible explanation among other possibilities. For instance, "Based on the data, we cannot exclude the hypothesis that external factors influenced the results."

What are some alternatives to "cannot exclude the hypothesis that"?

You can use alternatives like "cannot rule out the possibility that", "cannot dismiss the hypothesis that", or "it is possible that the hypothesis is true" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "cannot exclude the hypothesis that" or "cannot prove the hypothesis that"?

The choice depends on the context. "Cannot exclude the hypothesis that" means the hypothesis is still a possibility. "Cannot prove the hypothesis that" means there isn't enough evidence to confirm the hypothesis, implying a higher standard of evidence is needed.

What does it imply when someone says they "cannot exclude the hypothesis that"?

It implies that the hypothesis is still considered a viable explanation or possibility, even if there is not enough evidence to fully support it. It suggests the hypothesis should not be dismissed outright.