could not be excluded

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "could not be excluded" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you want to indicate that something was not eliminated or ruled out from consideration. Example: "After reviewing all the evidence, it was determined that the possibility of human error could not be excluded."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Particularly for shock tubes, facility effects at temperatures below 1000 K could not be excluded.

Combustion and Flame

Mr. Maher said Mr. Arafat could not be excluded from peace talks.

The New York Times

Over Rh/ZrO2 the additional contribution of a direct route to synthesis gas could not be excluded.

Catalysis Today

Although the chance of that happening was small the possibility "could not be excluded", said the centre.

The Guardian

Therefore, malignancy could not be excluded.

Surgical Case Reports

Therefore, the possibility of advection could not be excluded.

Earth, Planets and Space

Hence, type II errors could not be excluded.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

For many applications, EFSA concluded that an unacceptable risk was indicated or could not be excluded.

Environmental Sciences Europe

However, due to practical reasons, a treatment bias could not be excluded.

Annals of Intensive Care

However, conditions mimicking RLS could not be excluded, which may have influenced the results [38, 39].

The Journal of Headache and Pain

As discussed previously, a confounding effect of board and wood type could not be excluded.

New Zealand Journal of Forestry Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing potential risks or biases, using "could not be excluded" underscores the limitations of the current findings, promoting transparency and caution in interpretation.

Common error

Avoid using "could not be excluded" when the evidence strongly suggests a different conclusion. Overusing it can create unnecessary ambiguity and weaken your argument; instead, reserve this phrase for situations where genuine uncertainty persists.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "could not be excluded" functions as a modal verb phrase used to express a lack of certainty or inability to dismiss a possibility. As Ludwig AI indicates, it conveys that something cannot be definitively ruled out.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

69%

News & Media

22%

Academia

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "could not be excluded" is a commonly used modal verb phrase that expresses uncertainty or the inability to dismiss a possibility. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and frequently used in formal and scientific writing, particularly in Science and News & Media contexts. Alternatives like "could not be ruled out" or "cannot be dismissed" offer similar meanings. When employing this phrase, strive for balance: use it to present objective possibilities without overstating certainty, ensuring your writing remains both thorough and credible.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

could not be ruled out

Replaces "excluded" with "ruled out", maintaining a very close semantic equivalence.

cannot be dismissed

Uses a stronger verb, "dismissed", to indicate that something cannot be disregarded.

cannot be discounted

Substitutes "excluded" with "discounted", suggesting that something's importance cannot be reduced.

remains a possibility

Rephrases the idea into a direct statement of possibility.

has to be considered

Shifts the focus to the necessity of considering something.

must be taken into account

Highlights the importance of considering something when making a decision.

remains on the table

An idiomatic expression meaning something is still under consideration.

is still in contention

Indicates that something is still being debated or considered.

is not out of the question

Uses a double negative to express possibility.

is a viable option

Presents the idea as a feasible choice.

FAQs

How can I use "could not be excluded" in a sentence?

The phrase "could not be excluded" is used to indicate that a possibility or factor cannot be dismissed or ruled out. For example, "The possibility of human error "could not be excluded" from the investigation."

What is a synonym for "could not be excluded"?

A close synonym for "could not be excluded" is "could not be ruled out". Both phrases suggest that something remains a possibility and cannot be ignored.

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

The choice between "could not be excluded" and "was not excluded" depends on the intended meaning. "Could not be excluded" implies a remaining possibility, while "was not excluded" simply states that something was not actively removed or dismissed.

How does "could not be excluded" differ from "was not included"?

"Could not be excluded" suggests a potential factor that remains viable, whereas "was not included" simply indicates that something was absent or omitted. The former implies possibility, while the latter implies absence.