could not be exercised

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "could not be exercised" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where an action or right could not be performed or utilized, often in legal or formal discussions. Example: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, the option to purchase the property could not be exercised."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

The fact that some of Mr. Cheney's stock options could not be exercised until after inauguration was first reported by The New York Times last month.

The New York Times

While the decision upheld Secretary of State Katherine Harris's discretion to enforce a deadline of 5 p.m. today for all Florida counties to have their ballot tallies turned in, it also said the discretion could not be exercised arbitrarily.

The New York Times

The likely consequence is that contingency plans may have been insufficient and could not be exercised enough.

EPJ Data Science

They subsequently passed a law that in essence taxed options as current income, even though they could not be exercised for several years and might expire worthless.

Forbes

It may mean that you and the school were not 'matches'; i.e. that your interests could not be exercised to their full potential at that school.

Huffington Post

According to his understanding, he said, Rhodesia had been told just before Federal dissolution that it would retain the Federation's former powers regarding external affairs, but that this entrustment was subject to British discretion, and could not be exercised without extensive prior consultation and conformity to Britain's line.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

It's naïve to believe that the Zero could be used for anything but war, and it's equally naïve to pretend that the creation of a new warplane could not be the exercise of a spiritual passion.

The New Yorker

Commonly, definitions of the term "exercise" were missing from papers, thus it could not be determined if "exercise" referred to general aerobic exercise, specific quadriceps strengthening exercises, range of movement exercises or all three [Additional File 2].

BMC Family Practice

Participants in whom intracortical inhibition could not be induced pre-exercise using standard protocols were excluded from the corresponding analysis.

BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation

D-dimer could not be measured after exercise in several samples (12/20) due to lipemia, and this parameter was omitted from further analysis.

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

In addition, frequency and type of exercise on bone density could not be evaluated, because few of the subjects exercised regularly.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "could not be exercised", ensure the context clearly indicates what action or right is being referred to. This prevents ambiguity and strengthens the sentence's clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "could not be exercised" when a simpler term like "used" or "implemented" is more appropriate. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily formal or complex.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "could not be exercised" functions as a passive construction expressing an inability or restriction in performing a particular action or utilizing a specific right or power. Ludwig examples show its use in various contexts, including legal and financial situations.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

41%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "could not be exercised" is a grammatically correct and usable expression, as Ludwig AI indicates. It's most commonly found in news and media, science, and wiki contexts, conveying that a particular action or right was impossible to perform due to some constraint. While understandable and acceptable, keep in mind there are various alternative expressions with more or less semantic similarity like "could not be implemented" or "was impossible to exercise" that can be used instead depending on the context. Consider simplifying the sentence when it sounds overly formal.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

could not be implemented

Replaces "exercised" with a synonym focusing on the action of putting something into effect.

could not be utilized

Substitutes "exercised" with a synonym emphasizing the use of something.

was impossible to exercise

Emphasizes the impossibility of performing the action.

was not possible to exercise

States the action was not feasible.

could not be carried out

Focuses on the inability to execute the action.

could not be performed

Highlights the inability to complete the action.

was unable to be exercised

Expresses the incapacity to perform the action in passive voice.

was not able to be exercised

Indicates a lack of ability to perform the action.

the option was unavailable

Shifts the focus to the unavailability of the option itself.

the right could not be enforced

Specifically addresses the inability to enforce a right.

FAQs

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

Use "could not be exercised" to indicate an inability to perform a specific action, right, or power due to certain restrictions or circumstances. For example, "Due to legal constraints, the option to purchase the land "could not be exercised"".

What are some alternatives to "could not be exercised"?

Alternatives include phrases like "could not be implemented", "could not be utilized", or "was not possible to exercise", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "could not be exercised" or "could not exercise"?

The passive voice construction "could not be exercised" emphasizes the object or right that is not being used, while the active voice "could not exercise" focuses on the actor who is unable to perform the action. The choice depends on which element you want to emphasize.

What's the difference between "could not be exercised" and "could not be enforced"?

"Could not be exercised" implies an inability to use or implement something, while "could not be enforced" suggests an inability to compel compliance with a rule or law. The key difference lies in whether the issue is about usage or compelling action.