could not be made

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "could not be made" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something was impossible to create, produce, or accomplish. Example: "The deadline was too tight, and the report could not be made in time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Now the contract could not be made.

The New York Times

Progress could not be made without pain.

The Guardian

The information system could not be made to do it.

The Guardian - Tech

In many instances, changes could not be made.

The New York Times

The same adjustments could not be made to the skeleton and bobsled races.

The New York Times - Sports

That claim could not be made in Gaza, Mr. Sharon said.

The New York Times

The man himself could not be made out in the video.

The Guardian

The bureau lists showed DNA matches could not be made in more than 30 cases.

The New York Times

But those complaints could not be made about the Rachmaninoff or the Shostakovich.

The New York Times - Arts

But the government ruled the information, drawn from public sources, could not be made public.

The Guardian

West shifted to a club at Trick 3 and the contract could not be made.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "could not be made", ensure the context clearly indicates what could not be created or accomplished. For example, "The cake could not be made without eggs" provides specific information about the limitation.

Common error

Avoid using "could not be made" in sentences where the subject performing the action is unclear or missing. For example, instead of "Mistakes could not be made", specify who should avoid making mistakes: "Employees could not be made mistakes during the audit."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "could not be made" functions as a passive construction, indicating that an action (making) could not be performed on a specific subject. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous examples illustrating its use across varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

59%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Arts

0.1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "could not be made" is a versatile and grammatically sound expression used to indicate impossibility or inability to create, produce, or achieve something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's prevalent in diverse contexts, including news, science, and general discourse. While suitable for formal writing, attention should be paid to ensure clarity, particularly in passive voice constructions. Alternatives like "could not be created" or "was impossible to make" offer similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis. This phrase is undeniably a common and acceptable part of the English language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

could not be created

Focuses specifically on the act of creation rather than a broader sense of accomplishment.

could not be produced

Emphasizes the inability to manufacture or generate something.

was impossible to make

Rephrases the sentence to use "impossible" instead of "could not", slightly increasing emphasis.

was unable to be made

Uses "unable" instead of "could not", offering a more formal tone.

could not be achieved

Shifts focus to the achievement aspect rather than the making aspect.

could not be developed

Suggests an inability to advance or improve something.

could not be formed

Emphasizes the inability to bring something into existence or to take shape.

could not be constructed

Highlights the inability to build or assemble something.

proved unfeasible to make

Indicates that attempting to make something was impractical or unworkable.

was beyond the capacity to make

Suggests a lack of resources or ability to create something.

FAQs

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

You can use "could not be made" to indicate that something was impossible to create, produce, or accomplish. For instance, "The changes "could not be made" due to budget constraints".

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

Alternatives include "could not be created", "could not be produced", or was impossible to make, depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "could not be made" or "was not able to be made"?

"Could not be made" is generally more concise and common. "Was not able to be made" is grammatically correct but can sound more formal and less natural in many contexts.

When is it appropriate to use "could not be made" in formal writing?

"Could not be made" is suitable for formal writing when you need to express the impossibility of creating or producing something. Ensure the sentence structure is clear and the context provides sufficient detail, such as "The prime brokerage agreements "could not be made" without approval from top executives".