could have uncovered

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "could have uncovered" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to express a possibility or hypothetical situation in the past where something might have been revealed or discovered. Example: "If we had conducted a more thorough investigation, we could have uncovered the truth behind the scandal."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

She also flagged up five "missed opportunites" when the BBC could have uncovered the sexual abuse by Savile and Hall.

The Guardian

Supervisors who could have uncovered the abuse by viewing the videos seem not to have done so.

The New York Times

Many Argentines I talked with wondered whether he could have uncovered some other secret that caused someone in the Iranian — or the Argentine — government to kill him.

The New Yorker

Last month an internal investigation concluded that the bank's controls were not thorough enough, and staff had failed to make checks that could have uncovered the rogue trades.

The Guardian - Business

"The S.E.C. could have uncovered the Ponzi scheme well before Madoff confessed" in 2008, according to Mr. Kotz's report, which detailed the agency's failure to act on tips about Mr. Madoff's multibillion-dollar fraud.

The New York Times

But it said the partners knew enough to require them to refuse to provide an unqualified audit opinion and to take additional steps that could have uncovered the fraud.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

That report, released Tuesday, said that Olympus's executives had so cleverly buried the losses that external auditors could not have uncovered them.

The New York Times

This line of questioning could also have uncovered whether Robinson repents his previous convictions for violence, perhaps claiming they are uncharacteristic lapses or whether, as in some past media statements, he claims to have been unfairly persecuted for his political views, rather than his own violent acts.

The Guardian - Opinion

Individual risk factor analysis could not have uncovered these associations easily.

Environmental Health Perspectives

There are very few dry-stone walls on Orkney today that could match the ones we have uncovered here.

The Guardian

Software Development Kit You may have uncovered what could be seen as the Achilles Heel in the strategy, in that a brand's native app must be built with Meridian's app rapid builder technology (another offering they have).

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "could have uncovered" to express a missed opportunity or a hypothetical situation where something could have been revealed or discovered if different actions had been taken in the past.

Common error

Avoid using "could have uncovered" when referring to present or future possibilities. This phrase refers specifically to past hypothetical situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "could have uncovered" functions as a modal verb phrase expressing a past hypothetical possibility. It indicates that something was capable of being discovered or revealed, but did not actually occur. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "could have uncovered" is a grammatically sound construction used to express a missed opportunity or a hypothetical scenario in the past where something might have been revealed. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is indeed correct and appears in a variety of sources, particularly within news, media and scientific contexts. Common alternatives include "might have discovered" and "may have revealed". When using this phrase, ensure you're referring to a past possibility, not a present or future one. The phrase effectively highlights potential discoveries that were not realized, often prompting reflection on what could have been.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

might have discovered

This alternative replaces "could" with "might" and "uncovered" with "discovered", indicating a slightly lower probability of the event occurring.

may have revealed

This phrase uses "may" instead of "could" and "revealed" instead of "uncovered", suggesting a possibility of something being disclosed.

potentially found

This option changes the modal verb and uses "found" instead of "uncovered", emphasizing the act of finding something but losing some of the hypothetical sense.

could have detected

This alternative focuses on the act of detecting something that was possibly hidden, rather than uncovering it.

might have exposed

This phrase changes "uncovered" to "exposed", implying a potential unveiling of something previously concealed, often with a negative connotation.

may have brought to light

This option uses a more figurative expression, "brought to light", indicating the potential revelation of something previously unknown.

had the potential to reveal

This alternative rephrases the idea to emphasize the potential that something possessed to reveal something.

could have brought to the surface

Uses a different idiom, "brought to the surface", implying that something could have been revealed after being hidden or submerged.

had the capacity to expose

Replaces "uncovered" with "expose" and uses a more formal tone, emphasizing the capability to reveal something.

could have made visible

This alternative focuses on the act of making something visible, suggesting a potential unveiling or discovery.

FAQs

What does "could have uncovered" mean?

The phrase "could have uncovered" suggests a past possibility where something could have been revealed or discovered, but it didn't happen. It implies a missed opportunity or a hypothetical scenario.

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

You can use "could have uncovered" to express a hypothetical past discovery. For example, "If the investigation had been more thorough, they "could have uncovered" the truth."

What are some alternatives to "could have uncovered"?

Alternatives to "could have uncovered" include "might have discovered", "may have revealed", or "potentially found", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is "could have uncovered" formal or informal?

"Could have uncovered" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its appropriateness depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and sentence structure.