could be inscribed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "could be inscribed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing something that has the potential to be engraved, written, or marked in some way. Example: "The ancient tablet could be inscribed with the history of the civilization that created it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

There were no casualties listed yet, only polished granite where names could be inscribed in the future.

The New Yorker

Sure, Bellow is not speaking for himself here, but come on: It's a sentiment that's so American it could be inscribed in the Statue of Liberty.

The New York Times

For the recent Bars & Crafts coaster-making class, Ms. Kombert provided a list of quotes that could be inscribed: "Enjoy life sip by sip," was one.

The New York Times - Style

In her 1968 piece on Godard, she summed up the director's early work (through the 1967 "Weekend") as an unstable compound of fiction, fantasy, lyrical essay, and literary quotation, in which "story" was a relatively trivial and expedient base upon which the most significant activity of the movie could be inscribed as commentary.

The New Yorker

Cryptocurrency units could be inscribed with additional information and transformed into tokens representing anything from diamonds to title deeds; in this way blockchains could be repurposed as devices to verify property rights, or track products as they changed hands throughout the supply chain.

The Guardian - Tech

Asked if his name could be inscribed in the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest-ever recipient of an MA, he declined, with a rhetorical shrug: "What purpose will it serve?" This September he was due to hand in his African history dissertation for a second MA to the London School of Oriental and African Studies.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

I told her I was going to invent something called the iPaddle: a little screen-size wooden paddle that I would slide in front of her phone whenever she drifted away, on the back of which, upside-down so she could read them, would be inscribed humanist messages from the analog world: "I love you" or "Be here now".

The New York Times

Almost everything about graphene begs to be inscribed in legend.

The Guardian

Religion cannot be inscribed on such a list," Elias Sanbar said.

The Guardian

Storm victims' names will eventually be inscribed on the monument.

The New York Times

Soon, De Guzman's name will be inscribed with them.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "could be inscribed", ensure the context clearly indicates the surface or medium that will receive the inscription. For instance, "The plaque could be inscribed with the names of the donors."

Common error

Avoid using "could be inscribed" excessively in passive constructions, as it can make your writing sound indirect. Whenever possible, rephrase to use active voice for a more direct and engaging style. For example, instead of "Names could be inscribed on the monument", try "The committee could inscribe names on the monument."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "could be inscribed" functions as a modal passive construction. It expresses the possibility or potential for something to be written or engraved onto a surface. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically sound and commonly used in English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Academia

17%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Encyclopedias

8%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "could be inscribed" is a grammatically correct and frequently used modal phrase that expresses the possibility of something being written or engraved. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is versatile and appears in diverse contexts, including news, science, and academic writing. It is suitable for neutral registers and serves the purpose of indicating potential future actions. While the phrase is generally acceptable, overuse of passive voice should be avoided for more direct writing. Alternative phrases like "might be engraved" and "can be written" offer similar meanings with slight variations in nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

might be engraved

Replaces "could be" with "might be", suggesting a slightly lower probability of inscription.

can be written

Substitutes "could be inscribed" with "can be written", focusing on the act of writing as a means of inscription.

may be etched

Uses "may be" instead of "could be", implying possibility, and replaces "inscribed" with "etched", which suggests carving or engraving.

is capable of being engraved

Rephrases "could be inscribed" using a more descriptive and formal tone, highlighting the capability of something to be engraved.

has the potential to be marked

Changes "inscribed" to "marked", broadening the scope from writing to any form of marking, while retaining the sense of possibility.

is able to be imprinted

Employs "is able to be" instead of "could be", emphasizing ability, and uses "imprinted" as a synonym for "inscribed", suggesting a lasting mark.

might get engraved

Uses the phrasal verb "get engraved" instead of a passive construction, making it slightly less formal.

can potentially be etched

Adds the adverb "potentially" to emphasize possibility and utilizes "etched" for a more specific visual marking.

allows for inscription

Shifts from passive to active voice, highlighting the allowance or possibility of inscription.

permits being written upon

Uses the verb "permits" to indicate allowance and "written upon" to specify the type of inscription.

FAQs

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

Use "could be inscribed" to express the possibility of writing or engraving something onto a surface. For example, "The trophy "could be inscribed" with the winner's name.".

What are some alternatives to "could be inscribed"?

Alternatives include phrases like "might be engraved", "can be written", or "may be etched", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "could be inscribed" grammatically correct?

Yes, "could be inscribed" is grammatically correct. It uses the modal verb "could" with the passive voice construction "be inscribed" to indicate a possibility or potential action.

What is the difference between "could be inscribed" and "is inscribed"?

"Could be inscribed" suggests a possibility or potential future action, whereas "is inscribed" indicates a current or completed state of being engraved or written. For example, "The stone "could be inscribed" next week" versus "The stone "is inscribed" with a memorial message".