could be competed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "could be competed" is not correct in standard English usage.
The correct expression would typically be "could compete" or "could be completed," depending on the intended meaning. Example: "In this tournament, any team could compete for the championship title."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

If all seats could be competed for by all parties (at present, some are restricted), this might encourage parties to try harder to develop proper platforms.

The Economist

But if the census was stripped of all questions except those that are needed for an election, he added in a recent interview, it is possible that it could be competed by next summer.

The New York Times

The streptavidin binding of all the SBAs could be competed by biotin implying that they bind to the same site on streptavidin.

Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry

Again, IL2 specificity was shown, in that this suppression could be competed by increasing IL2 concentrations (Fig 3D).

Plosone

Consistent with PTD uptake, extracellular PrP binding to the cell surface could be competed with soluble GAGs.

Plosone

This binding could be competed away by a 20- to 50-fold increase of the wild-type, but not the mutant, PPRE oligomer.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

Obviously, I'm very disappointed and wish I could be competing in Sydney.

The New York Times - Sports

Students sign up willingly, and there could be competing offers for shares of their income.

The New York Times

If Hall's case fails, she could be competing to earn Rios a spot in the Games.

The New York Times - Sports

Having seen Mickelson pick up his first Claret Jug at the age of 43, the Briton believes he could be competing for majors for another decade.

Independent

With Stephon Marbury planning to leave when his contract expires in 2009, Collins could be competing with Robinson to be Marbury's successor.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the passive construction "could be competed". Opt for active voice alternatives like "could compete" for clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

Using "could be competed" often results from an attempt to apply passive voice where it doesn't naturally fit. Instead, consider what is doing the competing and structure the sentence actively.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "could be competed" attempts to express a passive potential, indicating something is available or subject to competition. However, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect, advising against its use.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "could be competed" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. While the intent is often to express the potential for something to be the subject of competition, Ludwig AI suggests that more appropriate alternatives such as "could compete" or "could be challenged" should be used. The phrase's infrequent and questionable usage, even within scientific contexts, advises against its adoption in formal writing. Pay attention to active voice and correct passive voice construction to convey your message accurately and grammatically.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

could compete

Active voice instead of passive, focusing on the ability to participate in a competition.

could be challenged

Emphasizes the possibility of facing a challenge.

could be contested

Focuses on the action of disputing or vying for something.

could be rivaled

Highlights the potential for someone or something to be an opponent.

could be outperformed

Emphasizes the possibility of being surpassed or exceeded in performance.

could be bested

Focuses on the possibility of being defeated or overcome.

could be rivaling

Expresses ongoing competition.

could be facing competition

Highlights the experience of encountering competitive pressure.

could be up against

Suggests confronting something difficult or challenging.

could be vying with

Emphasizes active effort to compete for something.

FAQs

What's a grammatically correct alternative to "could be competed"?

A better alternative would be to use the active voice, such as "could compete". This phrasing is clearer and more grammatically sound.

Is "could be competed" ever correct?

While sporadically found, "could be competed" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Rephrasing to use active voice or a different passive construction (e.g., "could be challenged") is recommended.

How can I avoid using "could be competed"?

Focus on who or what is doing the competing and restructure your sentence accordingly. For example, instead of "the prize could be competed for", try "teams could compete for the prize".

What does it mean if something "could be competed"?

The intended meaning is usually that something is available to be competed for or that there is an opportunity for competition. However, using a phrase like "could be contested" makes the idea more clear.