could be secure

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "could be secure" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the potential for something to be safe or protected, often in contexts related to technology, data, or physical security. Example: "If we implement the new encryption protocols, our data could be secure from unauthorized access."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

By this, Mr Preston speculates, Bundy understood that nothing could be secure without order.

The Economist

"It was the 30s, and if you could get that job, you could be secure and marry.

The Guardian - Books

"If there's a way it could be secure and fair, I believe a couple million dollars could be raised," Mr. Levin told ABC.

The New York Times

In language that some modern American conservatives can pounce on, he once asked whether the young republic's liberties could be secure without "a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are a gift from God".

The Economist

There have been no bursts yet, but these situations, too, look so much like bubbles that it is hard to imagine how confidence could be secure going forward now.

The New York Times

This ugly, blind workman excelled as a seductive love poet and also as a biting satirist—"Nobody could be secure from the itch of his tongue," it was later said and he added a new degree of expressiveness to the old forms.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

They had argued that security interests could be secured only by invoking America's right to withdraw from the ABM treaty after a six-month notification, with or without Russia's blessing.

The New York Times

The opportunity to vote could be secured by producing a registration slip, easily counterfeited.

The Economist

But it was not until after slavery was abolished that marriage could be secured as a civil right.

The New York Times

Keynesian ideas were riding high; a "solid majority" of economists believed that full employment could be secured by government spending.

The New York Times

The possibility of reviving the W.U.S.A. was left open if enough sponsorship could be secured in the coming months.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing digital security, specify what measures "could be secure", like "With encryption, data transmission could be secure".

Common error

Avoid using "could be secure" when you need to express certainty. Instead, use phrases like "is secure" when security is confirmed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "could be secure" functions as a modal verb phrase expressing a possibility or potential. As seen in the Ludwig examples, it indicates that a state of security is achievable under certain conditions or with specific actions.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "could be secure" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express the potential for safety or protection. Ludwig AI analysis indicates the phrase is mostly found across news, scientific, and encyclopedic sources, used to communicate possibility rather than confirmed certainty. When using this phrase, clarity can be increased by specifying how something "could be secure". Alternatives include "might be safe" or "may be protected", depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

might be safe

Changes 'secure' to 'safe', softening the tone and focusing on general safety.

may be protected

Replaces 'secure' with 'protected', highlighting the act of safeguarding.

could be safeguarded

Replaces 'secure' with 'safeguarded', adding a sense of careful and proactive protection.

could be ensured

Replaces 'secure' with 'ensured', focusing on the actions taken to make something safe.

potentially be guaranteed

Shifts focus to a stronger assurance, using 'guaranteed' to imply a higher level of certainty.

could be shielded

Uses 'shielded' to emphasize protection from harm or outside influence.

potentially be defended

Focuses on the ability to ward off threats, emphasizing active protection.

might be stabilized

Changes the focus to stability rather than security, suitable for contexts involving systems or situations.

might be sheltered

Highlights the provision of shelter or refuge, offering a sense of safety and security.

may be fortified

Implies strengthening something to make it secure, adding an element of reinforcement.

FAQs

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

Use "could be secure" to suggest the possibility of achieving security through certain measures. For instance, "If we implement two-factor authentication, our accounts "could be secure"".

What are some alternatives to "could be secure"?

Alternatives include "might be safe", "may be protected", or "potentially be guaranteed", depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

What does "could be secure" imply about certainty?

"Could be secure" implies a possibility, not a certainty. It suggests that under certain conditions or with specific actions, security might be achieved.

Is "could be secured" the same as "could be secure"?

No, "could be secured" implies an action being taken to make something secure, while "could be secure" implies a state of potential security. For example, "The building "could be secured" with better locks", versus "The building "could be secure" if the alarm system is activated".