could have enabled

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "could have enabled" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to express a possibility or potential that existed in the past regarding enabling something. Example: "The new technology could have enabled faster communication between teams."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

Such missiles could have enabled Cuba's Soviet allies to launch a nuclear strike on the US.

The Guardian

Kerry drove the process, but only McCain could have enabled him to drive it home.

The New Yorker

Then, the army could have enabled political groups to compete openly, leveling the playing field at last.

The New York Times

The extra £1.50 could have enabled many people to call home or to sort out accommodation or a job before they come out.

The Guardian - Opinion

The court rejected that argument, which could have enabled the local carriers to charge even higher prices for connecting to their networks.

The New York Times

But homeless services also reported that it was common for those they helped not to receive important communications that could have enabled them to avoid being sanctioned.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

"In essence, Microsoft mounted a deliberate assault upon entrepreneurial efforts that, left to rise or fall on their own merits, could well have enabled the introduction of competition into the market for Intel-compatible PC operating systems," the judge wrote.

The New York Times

After hearing the evidence in the antitrust case, Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson found last week that "Microsoft mounted a deliberate assault on entrepreneurial efforts that, left to rise or fall on their own merits, could well have enabled the introduction of competition" to Microsoft's markets.

The New York Times

The shambolic last handover in the men's 4x400m relay was enough to disqualify them from the event and cost them the points which could well have enabled GB to finish in the top three.

BBC

Video in emerging markets, Peled explained, specifically "requires a lot of tech scale and backend work and devops that we could not have enabled if we hadn't been able to recruit such a deep tech team out of Israel.

TechCrunch

The intrinsic decoupling of the DM segments together with this particular WFS configuration could potentially have enabled zonal wavefront corrections.

Biomedical Optics Express

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "could have enabled", ensure the context clearly indicates what specific outcome or action was made possible. Provide concrete details to strengthen the impact of your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "could have enabled" with overly broad or undefined subjects. For example, instead of saying "Technology could have enabled progress", specify which technology and what kind of progress. Instead make it specific, like "The implementation of AI driven diagnostics "could have enabled" faster disease detection".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "could have enabled" functions as a modal verb phrase expressing a past possibility or potential. It indicates that something had the capacity to facilitate or make something else possible. Ludwig AI confirms the proper usage across numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

39%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "could have enabled" is a versatile expression used to explore past possibilities and potential outcomes. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage across various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Science. It suggests a hypothetical scenario where a specific action or condition might have led to a different result. While alternatives like "might have permitted" or "may have facilitated" exist, the choice depends on the desired nuance. When using "could have enabled", clarity and specificity are key to conveying the intended meaning effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

might have permitted

Changes "could" to "might", softening the degree of certainty, and "enabled" to "permitted", suggesting authorization rather than inherent capacity.

may have facilitated

Substitutes "could" with "may", indicating a possibility, and replaces "enabled" with "facilitated", emphasizing ease and progress.

would have facilitated

Replaces "could" with "would", implying a higher degree of certainty or a conditional outcome, and keeps "facilitated".

would have allowed for

Similar in meaning, but uses the verb "allowed", highlighting permission or possibility.

could have facilitated the possibility of

This alternative expands on the original by explicitly mentioning "the possibility of", adding emphasis.

might have created an opportunity for

Shifts the focus to creating an "opportunity" rather than directly enabling, suggesting a less direct influence.

may have opened the door to

Uses a metaphorical expression to indicate that something became possible as a result.

could have paved the way for

Emphasizes preparation and progress, suggesting the action made future developments easier.

might have contributed to the possibility of

Highlights the aspect of contribution and potential.

may have been instrumental in

This alternative stresses the importance of something being a key factor.

FAQs

How can I use "could have enabled" in a sentence?

Use "could have enabled" to describe a past action or circumstance that had the potential to make something else possible. For example, "Improved communication "could have enabled" faster decision-making".

What are some alternatives to "could have enabled"?

Alternatives include "might have permitted", "may have facilitated", or "would have allowed for", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What's the difference between "could have enabled" and "would have enabled"?

"Could have enabled" suggests a possibility that wasn't necessarily realized. "Would have enabled" implies that the enabling effect was highly probable or certain, assuming a particular condition was met.

Is "could of enabled" grammatically correct?

No, "could of enabled" is incorrect. The correct form is "could have enabled". The contraction "could've" sounds similar to "could of", but it's essential to use the proper grammatical form in writing.