could again be

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "could again be" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the possibility of something happening once more in the future. Example: "If the conditions are right, the event could again be a success, just like last year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It could again be the engine for resuscitating democracy.

The New York Times

Environmentalists say that with intensive restoration, the Niger Delta could again be what it once was.

The New York Times

Labour could again be pushed into third place behind the Lib Dems tomorrow.

The Guardian - Opinion

It also means, incredibly, that he could again be a threat at the US Open.

The Guardian - Sport

It is not unthinkable that he could again be the man in boxing.

The New York Times - Sports

That means that warning signs of a terrorist attack could again be lost in the chaos.

The New York Times

They were crying in joy that they could again be together in this way.

The New York Times

Molina said he was improving and could again be the backup for Moeller.

The New York Times

But Martínez declined to speculate whether he could again be counted on to log 30 starts.

The New York Times - Sports

It could again be Gustavo Kuerten's or Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario's year.

The New York Times - Sports

Instead, the Capitol could again be tied in knots over differing levels of spending in a dozen routine spending bills.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "could again be" to express the possibility of a recurrence, but consider whether a more specific verb would add clarity. For example, instead of "the market could again be volatile", try "the market could become volatile again".

Common error

Avoid using "could again be" in sentences where the possibility is extremely remote or already implied. This can make your writing sound overly cautious and less impactful. For instance, instead of saying "the sun could again be a threat to human life if the ozone layer disappears completely", consider a more direct statement about the ozone layer's importance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "could again be" functions as a modal verb phrase indicating possibility and recurrence. It expresses the potential for something to return to a previous state or condition. Ludwig examples show it used in various contexts to suggest potential future events or states.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "could again be" is a versatile expression used to indicate the possibility of something recurring or returning to a previous state. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across diverse contexts, including news, science, and general discourse. While highly adaptable, writers should ensure its use adds meaningful nuance and isn't redundant. Consider alternatives such as "might be once more" or "may recur as" for subtle variations in tone and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

might be once more

Replaces "could" with "might" and rearranges "again" to "once more", altering the tone slightly.

may recur as

Substitutes "could" with "may" and restructures the phrase to emphasize recurrence.

could potentially be once more

Adds "potentially" and rearranges "again" to "once more", increasing emphasis on possibility.

might happen again

Replaces "be" with "happen" and uses "again" for clarity, resulting in a less formal expression.

could be happening again

Adds a continuous aspect, suggesting something is in the process of recurring.

could be reoccurring

Uses the term "reoccurring" which explicitly implies a return or repetition.

could be repeated

Focuses on the repetition aspect, simplifying the structure.

might return to be

Emphasizes the return aspect and uses a slightly different grammatical structure.

may be witnessed anew

Uses more formal language to express recurrence, suitable for literary contexts.

is potentially repeatable

Focuses on the repeatability of an event or situation, altering the structure.

FAQs

How can I use "could again be" in a sentence?

The phrase "could again be" is used to express the possibility of something recurring. For example, "If the economy improves, the city "could again be" a thriving center for innovation".

What are some alternatives to "could again be"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "might be once more", "may recur as", or "might happen again".

Is it grammatically correct to say "could be again" instead of "could again be"?

While "could be again" might be understood, ""could again be"" is the more standard and grammatically preferred construction for expressing recurrence.

What's the difference between "could again be" and "could still be"?

"Could again be" implies a return to a previous state or condition, while "could still be" suggests that something remains in a certain state or condition.