could be conceived

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "could be conceived" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing ideas, concepts, or possibilities that may be imagined or thought of. Example: "The new technology could be conceived as a revolutionary advancement in the field of medicine."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Thus, a being than which nothing greater could be conceived, which Anselm defined as God, must exist in reality.

Wikipedia

Gray captures the hilarious audacity and absurdity of the search for immortality, one that could be conceived only by such charmingly quixotic creatures as human beings.

The New York Times - Books

"That could be conceived as a bit of a disconnect with what they're doing now".

The New York Times

The resulting scheme provides a window into how other such arrangements could be conceived going forward.

The Guardian - Business

A home for Antinori could be conceived in terms of the hill, he argued.

The New York Times - Arts

Under current international law, they could be conceived as acts of aggression and a violation of the UN Charter.

The Guardian - Opinion

In many ways, the fight puts Mr. Obama in a script that could be conceived only in Hollywood.

The New York Times

"In a way, this article that I wrote on Passaic could be conceived of as a kind of appendix to William Carlos William's poem Paterson," he said.

The New Yorker

As well as their zip and wit, they carry with them a sense that the world could be conceived of as quite other than it seems.

The Guardian - Books

Their goal was to produce the best instrument that could be conceived within current technological limits if price were no object.

The New York Times - Arts

Even a venipuncture (say, for tissue typing) could be conceived of as shpikhut damim, a spilling of blood with nefarious intent.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "could be conceived" when you want to express that an idea or concept is possible or imaginable, but not necessarily proven or certain. For instance: "The project could be conceived as a pilot study to test feasibility."

Common error

While "could be conceived" is grammatically correct, overuse of passive voice can make your writing sound weak or indirect. Consider using an active voice construction when appropriate for a more direct and impactful statement. For example, instead of "The solution could be conceived by the team", try "The team could conceive the solution".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "could be conceived" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that an idea or concept is capable of being imagined or formed. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is suitable for written English. Its passive voice construction allows focusing on the idea rather than the conceiver. Examples from Ludwig illustrate diverse applications across multiple domains.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "could be conceived" is a grammatically sound and commonly used passive verb phrase that suggests the possibility of imagining or forming an idea. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It is versatile, appearing in contexts ranging from news and media to scientific and encyclopedia sources, making it suitable for both formal and neutral registers. When using "could be conceived", consider the potential for passive voice overuse and explore active voice alternatives for stronger statements. Remember that alternative expressions such as "can be envisioned" or "might be imagined" can offer nuanced differences in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

might be imagined

This alternative uses "might" instead of "could", suggesting a slightly lower degree of possibility, and replaces "conceived" with "imagined", focusing on the mental image aspect.

can be envisioned

This alternative uses "can" to indicate possibility and "envisioned" to highlight the visual or planning aspect of conceiving something.

may be contemplated

This suggests a more thoughtful consideration, replacing "conceived" with "contemplated", implying deeper reflection.

might be designed

This alternative focuses on the intentional creation or planning aspect, replacing "conceived" with "designed".

can be formulated

This suggests a more structured and precise development of an idea, replacing "conceived" with "formulated".

could be developed

This alternative focuses on the process of growth and refinement of an idea or concept.

may be hypothesized

This alternative emphasizes the speculative and theoretical nature of the concept, often used in scientific contexts.

might be dreamt up

This alternative uses a more informal and imaginative tone, suggesting a whimsical or creative origin.

can be pictured

This focuses on creating a mental image, emphasizing the visual aspect of understanding or imagining something.

might be thought out

This suggests a thorough and deliberate process of considering and planning something.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "could be conceived" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, you can use phrases like "could be conceptualized", "could be formulated", or "could be regarded as".

What's a simpler way to say "could be conceived"?

Simpler alternatives include phrases like "can be imagined", "can be thought of", or "can be seen as".

Is "could be conceived of as" different from "could be conceived as"?

The inclusion of "of" in "could be conceived of as" is optional and doesn't significantly alter the meaning. Both versions are grammatically correct and can be used interchangeably depending on the desired flow of the sentence.

When is it appropriate to use "could be conceived"?

Use "could be conceived" when you want to express that something is possible to imagine, understand, or develop as an idea or concept. It's often used in theoretical discussions or when presenting potential perspectives.