could be ratified

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "could be ratified" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the potential approval or confirmation of a proposal, agreement, or treaty. Example: "The new treaty could be ratified by the end of the year if all parties agree."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

Bishop-elect Bishop-elect Robinson, including Ms. Bingham, said they hoped his appointment could be ratified.

The New York Times

It had been hoped that the changes could be ratified before contagion threatened Spain or Italy.

The Guardian - Business

The decision by Parliament's Accountability and Justice Committee could be ratified by Iraq's electoral commission as early as Sunday, a step seen as a formality.

The New York Times

The contract could be ratified by Wednesday, when the last group of the union's 3,800 workers covered under the contract will vote.

The New York Times

Before the treaty could be ratified, however, a force united under the leadership of Yakama chief Kamaiakan, who declared his intention to drive all nonnatives from the region.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Such a text might be called an amending treaty, which could be ratified by national parliaments alone, in time for the 2009 European election.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

Hollywood hopes that such legislative threats will pressure hardware makers to agree to copy-protection standards that could then be ratified by Congress.The new climateArguably, all this could be called business as usual in Washington: industries defend their competing interests and, more often than not, end in stalemate.

The Economist

In fact, even the relatively uncontroversial 23rd Amendment could not be ratified in most of the South.

The New York Times

In 1988, Israel signed an international convention in Vienna banning drug money laundering, but it could not be ratified in Parliament because Israeli law was not in compliance with the treaty.

The New York Times

He had devoted a column to Budd following her feat in breaking the women's 5000m world record (which could not be ratified because of South Africa's sporting isolation).

The Guardian

Talking to broadcaster ZDF, Mr Westerwelle also said an EU political and trade deal with Ukraine could not be ratified unless Kiev adhered to the rule of law.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "could be ratified" to indicate a realistic possibility, not just a theoretical one. If the chance is very slim, consider alternatives like "might be ratified".

Common error

Avoid using "could be ratified" when discussing purely hypothetical situations with no practical path to ratification. This can mislead readers into thinking there's a real possibility when none exists.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "could be ratified" functions as a modal passive construction, indicating the possibility of something being officially approved or confirmed. It suggests that the subject is eligible for ratification but the action is not yet certain. Ludwig confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Encyclopedias

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "could be ratified" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to express the possibility of official approval or confirmation. Ludwig confirms its accuracy and appropriateness across various contexts. It is most commonly found in News & Media, Science, and Encyclopedias. When using this phrase, ensure that the subject and the context of ratification are clear. Related phrases include "might be approved" and "may be endorsed". Avoid using it in purely hypothetical situations to prevent misleading your audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

might be approved

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

may be endorsed

Substitutes "ratified" with "endorsed", implying a formal approval or support.

is potentially validated

Uses "validated" instead of "ratified", focusing on the confirmation of validity.

has the possibility of ratification

Rephrases the sentence to emphasize the possibility using a more verbose construction.

is subject to ratification

Highlights that the ratification is a condition or requirement.

is up for ratification

Informal way of saying it's pending ratification.

could gain approval

Focuses on the act of gaining approval rather than the formal ratification process.

can be sanctioned

Replaces "ratified" with "sanctioned", indicating an official permission or approval.

is liable to be ratified

Suggests a higher likelihood of ratification compared to "could be ratified".

is eligible for ratification

Emphasizes that the subject meets the requirements to be ratified.

FAQs

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

You can use "could be ratified" to describe a situation where an agreement, treaty, or decision has the potential to be officially approved. For example: "The treaty "could be ratified" by the senate next month".

What phrases are similar in meaning to "could be ratified"?

Similar phrases include "might be approved", "may be endorsed", or "is potentially validated", all of which suggest a possibility of formal approval or confirmation.

Is it appropriate to use "could be ratified" in formal writing?

Yes, "could be ratified" is appropriate for formal writing, especially in contexts such as legal, political, or business documents where the potential for official approval is being discussed.

What determines whether something "could be ratified"?

Whether something "could be ratified" depends on various factors, including the support of relevant parties, adherence to established procedures, and the absence of significant obstacles. For example, a treaty requires enough votes to "be ratified".