could not be contacted

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "could not be contacted" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that someone was unreachable or unavailable for communication. Example: "The emergency services reported that the individual could not be contacted during the crisis."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Monarch could not be contacted.

Independent

He could not be contacted.

The Guardian

Salmon could not be contacted.

The Guardian

Leahy could not be contacted.

The Guardian - Business

Bjork's spokespeople could not be contacted.

The Guardian

Villatora could not be contacted for comment.

The Guardian

Collins could not be contacted for comment.

The Guardian - Tech

Google could not be contacted for comment.

The Guardian - Tech

He could not be contacted today.

The Guardian - Arts

Mr Tipping could not be contacted last night.

The Guardian

The agriculture minister, Barnaby Joyce, could not be contacted.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When reporting that someone "could not be contacted", ensure you've made reasonable attempts to reach them through multiple channels (phone, email, etc.) to maintain credibility.

Common error

While "could not be contacted" is grammatically sound, overuse of passive voice can make your writing seem less direct. Consider rephrasing to active voice where appropriate, such as "We were unable to contact them" to improve clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "could not be contacted" functions primarily as a passive construction, indicating that someone or something was not able to be reached. As Ludwig AI states, it is correct and usable. It commonly appears in news reports and scientific papers, as seen in the examples provided.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Science

27%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "could not be contacted" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase, as Ludwig AI confirms, primarily found in news and scientific reporting. It serves to inform that attempts to reach a person or entity were unsuccessful. While versatile, the phrase generally carries a neutral to professional tone, fitting formal communications. When writing, it's important to ensure attempts were made through multiple channels before stating someone "could not be contacted" and to vary sentence structure by sometimes using active voice alternatives for clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was unreachable

Uses a direct adjective to describe the state of being uncontactable.

couldn't be reached

A contraction emphasizing the inability to establish contact.

was unavailable for comment

Specifically indicates unavailability for providing information.

contact could not be established

Formal and emphasizes the failure to make a connection.

attempts to reach were unsuccessful

Highlights the failure of multiple attempts to communicate.

was not able to be reached

A slightly more verbose way of expressing the inability to contact.

failed to respond

Focuses on the lack of reply from the person being contacted.

was not available

Suggests general unavailability, not specifically communication.

remained out of contact

Implies a continuous state of being unreachable.

was incommunicado

Uses a more formal term to describe the state of being unable to communicate.

FAQs

What does it mean when someone "could not be contacted"?

It means that attempts to reach a person or entity via various communication methods (phone, email, etc.) were unsuccessful. They were unreachable or unresponsive.

What can I say instead of "could not be contacted"?

You can use alternatives like "was unreachable", "couldn't be reached", or "was unavailable for comment depending on the context.

Is it better to say "could not be contacted" or "was not able to be contacted"?

"Could not be contacted" is generally preferred as it's more concise and direct. "Was not able to be contacted" is grammatically correct but wordier.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "could not be contacted"?

It's appropriate when you need to report that someone was unreachable, especially in news reports, formal communications, or research papers when detailing attempts to gather information.