conceivably could

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "conceivably could" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a possibility or likelihood of something happening, often in a hypothetical context. Example: "The new policy conceivably could lead to significant changes in employee productivity."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

That conceivably could have prevented that tragedy.

The New York Times

Then again, they just conceivably could have been real.

The New York Times - Arts

That, he said, "conceivably could deter foreign investment in Nigeria".

The New York Times

There are market rates that conceivably could have been used, as Mr. Gensler proposed.

The New York Times

Some politically themed works are so low key that they conceivably could be overlooked.

The New York Times - Arts

And a severe European downturn conceivably could stop the American recovery in its tracks.

The New York Times

Hampton threw only 73 pitches today and conceivably could come back on short rest.

The New York Times - Sports

The placebo contained some sugar, which conceivably could have harmed the diabetics.

The New York Times - Health

Davis, the would-be Yankee, conceivably could chase those Yankee ghosts late this season.

The New York Times - Sports

Who says we have heard everything there conceivably could be to say from the presidential candidates?

The New York Times

Each of the movements is bigger than one thinks it is going to be or conceivably could be.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "conceivably could" when you want to express a possibility without implying a high degree of certainty. It's useful for speculative or hypothetical scenarios.

Common error

Avoid using "conceivably could" when you intend to express a high probability or strong likelihood. Opt for stronger modal verbs like "will" or "should" in such cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "conceivably could" functions as a modal phrase used to express possibility or potential. As confirmed by Ludwig, it indicates that something is imaginable or theoretically possible but not necessarily probable. Examples show its use in contexts ranging from political outcomes to scientific research.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

37%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Social Media

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "conceivably could" is a modal phrase used to express possibility or potential. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage across diverse contexts. While it appears most often in news and scientific sources, its neutral register makes it appropriate for various situations. To ensure clarity in writing, avoid using it when a higher degree of certainty is intended and use more specific alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it is conceivable that

Mirrors the original meaning but uses a more explicit structure.

potentially might

Replaces "conceivably" with "potentially", slightly altering the nuance of likelihood.

possibly may

Uses "possibly" instead of "conceivably", implying a slightly lower degree of certainty.

theoretically could

Emphasizes the hypothetical nature of the possibility.

imaginably might

Suggests something that can be imagined or conceived as a possibility.

feasibly may

Highlights the practicality or feasibility of the potential outcome.

it is possible that

Rephrases the phrase into a more formal construction.

it is imaginable that

Replaces "conceivably" with "imaginable", focusing on the capacity to imagine the outcome.

within the realm of possibility

Expresses that something is not impossible or unlikely.

under certain circumstances, might

Introduces a conditional element, suggesting the possibility depends on specific conditions.

FAQs

How can I use "conceivably could" in a sentence?

Use "conceivably could" to express a possible, but not necessarily likely, outcome. For example, "The new strategy "conceivably could" improve our market share if the economic conditions are favorable."

What's a more formal way to say "conceivably could"?

A more formal alternative is "it is conceivable that". For example, instead of "This "conceivably could" lead to complications", you might say "It is conceivable that this could lead to complications."

What's the difference between "potentially could" and "conceivably could"?

"Potentially could" suggests a stronger possibility than "conceivably could". "Conceivably" implies something is imaginable or theoretically possible, while "potentially" suggests it has a real chance of happening.

What can I say instead of "conceivably could" to imply a lower degree of certainty?

You can use phrases like "possibly may" or "imaginably might" to suggest a lower degree of certainty than ""conceivably could"".