could not again

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "could not again" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express that something is not possible to do once more. Example: "After the incident, she felt she could not again trust him."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Even deeper, though largely hidden, were the psychological lesions caused by the strain of protracted warfare and by the sentiment that France could not again endure such a test.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"Given today's advanced software capabilities, it is hard to imagine why DHS and immigration courts could not again work together to schedule hearings before sending notices to appear," the ruling said.

The Washington Post

'It was me you were looking at, wasn't it?' He had reminded her later, oh, a long while later - but not so late that he could not again even begin to summon up that thing he supposed was fondness - that they were the very first words he had ever heard her utter.

The Guardian - Books

Because of a policy that a regular officer, once invalided to Australia, could not again be posted overseas, Rowell's period of active service was over.

Wikipedia

He also saw reparations as a means to ensure that Germany could not again threaten France and as well to weaken the German ability to compete with France's industrialization.

Wikipedia

With support from Colonel Blood's batteries, the Hessian, Hanoverian and Dutch infantry – now commanded by Count Berensdorf – succeeded in pushing the French and Irish infantry back into Oberglauheim so that they could not again threaten Churchill's flank as he moved against Tallard.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

But he's found commercial success before, so who's to say he couldn't again?

HuffPost

Caperton could not cry again.

The New Yorker

That could not happen again.

The New York Times - Sports

But the Devils could not score again.

The New York Times - Sports

He could not kill again, he insists.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "could not again" to emphasize a previous inability that is expected to continue, particularly in scenarios where a recurrence is undesirable.

Common error

Don't use "could not again" when a simple "could not" suffices. The 'again' adds emphasis on non-repetition, so reserve this phrase for cases where the lack of recurrence is significant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "could not again" functions as a modal construction expressing past inability with an emphasis on non-recurrence. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase indicates that something was impossible in the past and is implied to remain so.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

33%

Encyclopedias

17%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "could not again" is a grammatically sound and valid English construction that expresses an inability to repeat an action or event. While the Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, it also signals a relatively uncommon expression that should be reserved to convey that a specific action or event was not possible in the past and will probably remain impossible in the future. Its usage is more frequent in news, wikis and encyclopedias. When using this phrase, it's important to consider the implications of emphasizing the lack of recurrence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was unable to repeat

Changes from a modal verb construction to a simpler verb phrase to express inability.

was incapable of doing it again

Replaces 'could not' with 'was incapable of' for emphasis.

found it impossible to repeat

Emphasizes the impossibility of the action.

was not able to do it once more

Uses 'was not able' instead of 'could not', adding 'once more' for emphasis.

could never replicate

Uses the word 'replicate' to express inability to repeat something.

failed to reproduce

Implies failure to repeat an action or result.

couldn't recreate

Uses 'recreate' to indicate an inability to create something again.

was barred from repeating

Suggests an external restriction preventing repetition.

was prevented from doing so again

Emphasizes prevention as the reason for not repeating.

was not allowed to continue

Highlights permission as the limiting factor in repeating an action.

FAQs

How can I use "could not again" in a sentence?

Use "could not again" to indicate that something was not possible in the past and is expected to remain impossible. For example: "After the injury, he felt he "could not again" compete at the same level".

What's a simple substitute for "could not again"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "was unable to repeat", "could never replicate", or "could not repeat" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it more formal to use "could not again" or "was unable to again"?

"Could not again" and "was unable to again" are generally interchangeable in terms of formality. The choice depends on the specific context and desired emphasis, however "was unable to" might sound slightly more formal.

When should I use "couldn't again" instead of "could not again"?

"Couldn't again" is a contraction of "could not again" and is suitable for informal contexts. In formal writing, it's best to use the full form ""could not again"".