could be reserved

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "could be reserved" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the possibility of something being set aside or booked for a specific purpose or individual. Example: "The conference room could be reserved for our meeting next week if needed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

42 human-written examples

Entire stretches of highway could be reserved for buses during peak traffic periods, he said.

The New York Times

And, if city representatives agreed, it could be reserved solely for the school.

The New York Times

My biggest problem was that although this particular offer was valid through next July, the rooms could be reserved only 16 days after my travel date.

The New York Times - Travel

The Special Roads Act of 1949 authorized existing or new roads to be classified as "motorways" that could be reserved for special classes of traffic.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In contrast to the poetic congress babbling behind his spectacles and buck-toothed grin, Morgan in company could be reserved to the point of silence, especially among strangers.

The Guardian - Books

Ms. Nixon's program would be a "first dollar" program, which means federal Pell Grants, for example, could be reserved to pay for living expenses.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

18 human-written examples

For example, the Holiday Inn Express Orlando Airport couldn't be reserved through Hotels.com but was available for $93 a night from Expedia and $89.59 per night directly from Holiday Inn Express.

Forbes

Sometimes, I wish this question could only be reserved for those who truly know what they are asking me when they ask it.

Huffington Post

Computational burden could then be reserved for a small subset of SNPs with high associations to phenotype.

BioData Mining

Indeed, the hypoxic suppression of miR-100 could not be reserved by knockdown of either HIF-1 α or HIF-2 α.

British Journal of Cancer

Johnson couldn't afford to be reserved.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "could be reserved", ensure the context clearly indicates who or what is making the reservation and the purpose for which it's being reserved.

Common error

Avoid overuse of the passive voice with "could be reserved". Using active voice often leads to clearer and more direct sentences. For instance, instead of "The room could be reserved by the team", consider "The team could reserve the room".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "could be reserved" functions as a modal passive construction, indicating the possibility or potential for something to be set aside or booked for a specific purpose. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a valid and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "could be reserved" is a versatile phrase used to indicate the possibility of setting something aside for a specific purpose. As Ludwig AI validates, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely applicable. It's prevalent in news, scientific, and formal business contexts. When employing this phrase, consider the clarity of who or what is making the reservation and its intended purpose. Be mindful of potential overuse in passive voice and strive for active constructions where appropriate. Related phrases such as "might be allocated" and "may be set aside" can offer suitable alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

might be allocated

Emphasizes the potential distribution or assignment of something.

may be set aside

Focuses on the action of separating something for a particular use.

could be designated

Highlights the act of officially assigning something for a specific purpose.

can be earmarked

Suggests a specific allocation, often for financial resources.

might be retained

Focuses on keeping something available for future use.

may be held back

Emphasizes temporarily withholding something for a later purpose.

could be kept available

Highlights maintaining the readiness of something for potential use.

can be provisioned

Focuses on supplying or equipping something in advance.

might be quarantined

Suggests isolating something, often due to a specific condition or requirement.

may be cordoned off

Emphasizes restricting access to an area or resource.

FAQs

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

Use "could be reserved" to indicate a possibility of something being set aside for a particular purpose. For example, "The conference room "could be reserved" for the client meeting".

What are some alternatives to "could be reserved"?

You can use alternatives like "might be allocated", "may be set aside", or "could be designated" depending on the specific context.

Is "could be reserved" formal or informal?

"Could be reserved" is generally suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, the surrounding language should match the intended tone. In highly formal settings, consider using more precise alternatives.

What's the difference between "could be reserved" and "should be reserved"?

"Could be reserved" indicates a possibility or option, while "should be reserved" implies a recommendation or obligation. For example, "This seat "could be reserved"" suggests it's possible to reserve it, whereas "This seat should be reserved" suggests it's advisable or necessary to do so.