cannot go over

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cannot go over" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a limit or restriction on something, often in contexts involving rules, regulations, or physical constraints. Example: "The weight of the luggage cannot go over 50 pounds to avoid extra fees."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

But while "we didn't get into too many specifics," she said, it was also made clear that "we cannot go over the fiscal cliff".

The New York Times

The crowd, the occasion, the emotion of the game will all count as well – they have to be right on the edge but they cannot go over it.

The Guardian - Sport

Negotiations cannot go over until the January European council as there would not be time for the parliamentary processes to complete.

The Guardian

You simply cannot go over 140 characters.

TechCrunch

He tells me that they cannot go over capacity or they risk everyone else inside the centre.

BBC

However, the temperature decreases slightly instead of showing a monotonical increase; it cannot go over the peak of the radiative cooling function at T ≃ 105 K (Landini and Monsignori-Fossi, 1990) because the radiative loss is efficient, owing to the large density.

Earth, Planets and Space

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

"Everyone needs to do the interview here in Stockholm, because David cannot go all over the world.

The Guardian - Books

In times of austerity, businesses with shrinking margins and consumers with lighter wallets simply cannot go on paying over the odds," Ed Chandler, CEO of Kalixa Group, noted in a statement.

TechCrunch

But the Steelers have beaten the Browns nine consecutive times, and the Browns cannot go anywhere until they get over that obstacle.

The New York Times

The country simply cannot go on like this over the question of official secrecy.

The Guardian

The Cameroonian army claims it killed dozens of jihadis at Zelevet but the truth is that it does not know, as it cannot go in hot pursuit over the border.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When setting limits or restrictions, be precise with numbers or units to avoid ambiguity. For example, specify "the budget cannot go over $1000" instead of just "the budget cannot go over".

Common error

Avoid using "cannot go over" when you mean "should not go over" if there's a possibility of it happening but it's just undesirable. "Cannot" indicates an impossibility, not just a recommendation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cannot go over" functions as a modal verb phrase indicating a prohibition or restriction. It asserts that something is not permitted or able to exceed a certain limit. Examples from Ludwig demonstrate its use in various contexts, from financial constraints to physical boundaries.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Academia

8%

Formal & Business

7%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "cannot go over" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that conveys a clear prohibition or limit. As evidenced by Ludwig's analysis of numerous reliable sources, this phrase is most often encountered in News & Media and Science contexts. While it's advisable to ensure the correctness of limits to which it refers, be careful not to use the expression when a simple recommendation is expected instead of an absolute constraint. The related phrases "must not exceed" and "should not surpass" provide semantically related alternatives for more precise writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cannot surpass

Highlights the inability to exceed a particular value or threshold.

must not exceed

Emphasizes a mandatory limit that should not be surpassed.

must stay below

Focuses on maintaining a level lower than a given point.

should not surpass

Suggests a recommended limit with a slightly less forceful tone.

is capped at

Specifies a maximum value or limit that cannot be exceeded.

may not cross

Implies a boundary or threshold that is forbidden to be crossed.

cannot outstrip

Specifically refers to not exceeding something in terms of quantity or performance.

is not allowed to exceed

States a rule prohibiting the action of surpassing a certain limit.

is restricted to

Indicates a constraint that limits something to a certain level.

is limited to

Indicates that something has a specific upper boundary.

FAQs

What does "cannot go over" mean?

The phrase "cannot go over" indicates that something is not allowed to exceed a certain limit or boundary. It expresses a restriction or an impossibility of surpassing a specific value or threshold.

What are some alternatives to "cannot go over"?

You can use alternatives such as "must not exceed", "should not surpass", or "is limited to" depending on the context.

Is "cannot go over" grammatically correct?

Yes, "cannot go over" is grammatically correct and follows standard English grammar rules. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness based on analysis of reliable sources.

How do I use "cannot go over" in a sentence?

Use "cannot go over" to express a limit or restriction that must not be exceeded. For example: "The temperature cannot go over 30 degrees Celsius" or "The project budget cannot go over $5000".