could be rescued

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "could be rescued" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a situation where something or someone has the potential to be saved or helped. Example: "The stranded hikers were in a difficult situation, but they believed they could be rescued by the search team."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Amnesty's, he reckons, could be rescued, but it must hurry.

The Economist

"We hoped he was in a pocket where he could be rescued.

The New York Times

The shocked Muthalik fell down during the melee before he could be rescued by his supporters.

The Guardian

Thursday's performance would be postponed but Cole said he hoped the season could be rescued – "obviously, without those particular props".

The Guardian

The cognitive defect could be rescued by treatment with hyperforin, which can invoke TRPC6 activation.

Behavioural Brain Research

Furthermore, miR-125a-5p-induced cell growth inhibition and differentiation could be rescued by TAZ overexpression (Yuan et al., 2015).

Protein & Cell

Many of them had amputations carried out underneath burning carriages so that they could be rescued.

BBC

Colonel Watson said: "All those that could be rescued were rescued.

BBC

Notably, none of the low-fiber generations could be "rescued" by reintroducing high-fiber food.

Science Magazine

But at least the black and Indian rhinos, surely, could be rescued.

BBC

The Slavophiles believed their society could be rescued only by a spiritual rebirth.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "could be rescued" when referring to a situation where there is a possibility of saving someone or something from danger or a negative outcome. Ensure that the context clearly indicates what is being rescued and from what.

Common error

Avoid using "could be rescued" in excessively passive sentences where the agent of rescue is unclear or omitted. Always strive for clarity by specifying who or what is performing the rescue, making the sentence more direct and informative.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "could be rescued" functions as a modal verb phrase expressing possibility or potential. It suggests that there exists a chance or opportunity for something or someone to be saved from a dangerous or undesirable situation, as evidenced by examples available through Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

48%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "could be rescued" is a versatile modal verb phrase indicating a possibility of salvation or recovery from a perilous or undesirable state. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use across diverse contexts including scientific research, news reporting, and business communications. Its neutral register ensures appropriateness in various settings. While alternatives like "might be saved" and "can be recovered" exist, "could be rescued" often implies a more immediate need for intervention. When writing, ensure the agent of rescue is clear to avoid passive voice ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

might be saved

Uses "saved" instead of "rescued", implying a slightly broader sense of averting loss or damage.

could be salvaged

Emphasizes the idea of saving something from ruin or loss, often in a more tangible or material sense.

can be recovered

Highlights the possibility of regaining something that was lost or damaged.

can be helped

Focuses on the possibility of providing assistance or support to improve a situation.

can be aided

Similar to "can be helped" but implies a more formal or official type of assistance.

is potentially recoverable

Rephrases the idea using an adjective, emphasizing the potential for recovery.

may be retrieved

Suggests the possibility of finding and bringing something back from a state of loss or obscurity.

is capable of being saved

A more verbose construction that emphasizes the capability of something to be saved.

has a chance of being rescued

Introduces the element of chance or probability, indicating that the rescue is not guaranteed.

can be extracted

Focuses on the action of removing someone/something from a dangerous situation.

FAQs

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

Use "could be rescued" to indicate a possibility of being saved from a dangerous or undesirable situation. For example, "The company's reputation "could be rescued" with a strong PR campaign".

What are some alternatives to saying "could be rescued"?

Alternatives include "might be saved", "can be recovered", or "could be salvaged", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "could have been rescued" instead of "could be rescued"?

Yes, "could have been rescued" is grammatically correct but indicates a past possibility that did not occur. "Could be rescued" refers to a present or future possibility.

What's the difference between "could be rescued" and "could be saved"?

While similar, "could be saved" is broader and can apply to various situations where something is preserved from loss or damage. ""could be rescued"" typically implies a more immediate danger or precarious situation from which intervention is needed.