cannot help but be

USAGE SUMMARY

"cannot help but be" is a perfectly acceptable phrase to use in written English.
It is used to express an unavoidable truth or inevitability. Examples: "The evening traffic was so bad that I cannot help but be late for my dinner reservation." "With so much evidence against him, the defendant cannot help but be found guilty."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

If the former is weak, the latter cannot help but be as well.

The New York Times

But for the audience, there cannot help but be a difference.

Independent

It seats only 7,500 patrons, who cannot help but be close to the field.

The New York Times - Arts

But she still cannot help but be amazed at her husband's legacy.

The New York Times - Sports

Such a figure — authoritarian and anti-authoritarian at the same time — cannot help but be confusing.

The New York Times

These three dozen essays are the "dispatches of a correspondent who cannot help but be foreign".

The Guardian - Books

They become the Pied Piper and we cannot help but be drawn into their world.

The Guardian

Wilde cannot help but be framed by Jane, and his wife, Constance, who echoed her mother-in-law's values.

Independent

The case cannot help but be influenced by a lawsuit brought by Apple against Motorola in June.

The Economist

Theoretically, it also isolates Suárez from the noise but he cannot help but be aware of it.

The Guardian - Sport

When the people see the magnificent heedlessness of his charge, they cannot help but be carried along.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "cannot help but be" to express an inevitable outcome or feeling. Ensure the sentence structure is clear, with a subject that logically leads to the unavoidable result. For example: 'Given the circumstances, he "cannot help but be" anxious.'

Common error

While grammatically correct, overuse of "cannot help but be" can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your language with alternatives like "inevitably" or "is bound to be" /s/bound+to+be to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cannot help but be" functions as a modal construction expressing inevitability or compulsion. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it signals that a certain outcome or feeling is unavoidable. For example, 'Given the circumstances, one "cannot help but be" concerned'.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Academia

20%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "cannot help but be" is a versatile modal phrase used to express inevitability or compulsion. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is grammatically correct and widely accepted. It is frequently found in news and academic writing, and the phrase conveys a sense that something is unavoidable, whether it's a feeling, an action, or an outcome. While perfectly acceptable, be mindful of overuse and consider alternatives like "bound to be" /s/bound+to+be or "inevitably" to maintain a dynamic writing style. Overall, this construction allows for a nuanced expression of inevitability across diverse contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

will inevitably be

Uses 'inevitably' to directly express the unavoidable nature of the situation.

cannot avoid being

Uses 'avoid' instead of 'help', keeping a similar structure but slightly altering the emphasis.

has no choice but to be

Highlights the lack of alternatives, emphasizing the forced nature of the situation.

unable to avoid being

Replaces the modal verb 'help' with 'avoid', resulting in a more direct expression of inevitability.

sure to be

Implies a high degree of probability and expectation.

certain to be

Emphasizes the certainty of an outcome, conveying a very strong level of assurance.

bound to be

Offers a stronger sense of certainty and predetermination compared to the original phrase.

is compelled to be

Focuses on the internal or external forces driving the unavoidable outcome.

destined to be

Suggests a sense of fate or preordained outcome, adding a layer of depth to the inevitability.

must necessarily be

Introduces a sense of logical necessity or requirement.

FAQs

How can I use "cannot help but be" in a sentence?

Use "cannot help but be" to indicate an unavoidable feeling or outcome. For instance, "Given the evidence, the jury "cannot help but be" convinced of his guilt."

What are some alternatives to "cannot help but be"?

You can use alternatives like "unable to avoid being", "bound to be", or "destined to be" depending on the context.

Is "cannot help but be" formal or informal?

"Cannot help but be" is generally considered neutral in tone and suitable for both formal and informal writing. The context determines the overall formality.

What's the difference between "cannot help but be" and "cannot help being"?

"Cannot help but be" is followed by a base form of the verb (be + adjective/noun), while "cannot help being" is followed by a gerund (verb + -ing). For example, "I "cannot help but be" impressed" versus "I "cannot help being" impressed". Both convey inevitability, but the grammatical structure differs.