could not corroborate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "could not corroborate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that one is unable to confirm or verify information or claims. Example: "The investigator could not corroborate the witness's account of the events."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

Our guide could not corroborate that.

The New York Times - Travel

The fourth source could not corroborate Curveball's claims.

The New York Times

Police could not corroborate the situation surrounding how the man found his way to the house.

The Guardian

The station investigated the alleged incidents and could not corroborate them.

The Guardian

Johnson & Johnson said yesterday that it thoroughly investigated Mr. Arce's accusations and could not corroborate them.

The New York Times

In other instances, it has refrained from publishing accusations it could not corroborate.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

That detail could not corroborated.

The Guardian

I couldn't corroborate those hours in the court record.

The New York Times

"We started raising it with other people who had contacted us, and we couldn't corroborate it," Mr. Schiliro said.

The New York Times - Tech

Reporters couldn't get close to the body, so they couldn't corroborate the police statement, but there was a gun next to the victim's hand.

Vice

While Arcos couldn't corroborate Roberto's story about Chinese water torture being used against political dissidents, he described what happened to his own father.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "could not corroborate" when you want to express that an investigation or inquiry failed to find supporting evidence for a claim or statement. It's suitable for formal and neutral contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "could not corroborate" to describe actions or abilities of inanimate subjects. "Corroborate" requires an active agent capable of verifying information, it is better to use "did not support". Example: Incorrect: "The data could not corroborate the hypothesis.". Correct: "The data did not support the hypothesis."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "could not corroborate" typically functions as a verb phrase indicating the inability to support or confirm a statement or claim with evidence. Ludwig's examples show its frequent use in news and official reports when investigations fail to find supporting information.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

27%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "could not corroborate" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to indicate the inability to confirm or support a statement with evidence. Ludwig shows it appears frequently in news and scientific contexts. Alternatives like "unable to verify" or "could not confirm" offer similar meanings. It's crucial to use "corroborate" with animate subjects and avoid applying it to inanimate entities. Therefore, "could not corroborate" is appropriate in neutral to formal contexts, such as reports or official statements, when communicating a lack of validation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unable to verify

Emphasizes the lack of ability to prove the truth of something.

could not verify

Similar to "could not corroborate", but focuses on verifying the truth.

was unable to confirm

Highlights the lack of confirmation for a statement or report.

could not substantiate

Focuses on the lack of evidence to support a claim.

did not confirm

A more straightforward statement of non-confirmation.

failed to validate

Highlights the failure to prove something valid.

found no evidence of

Indicates a lack of supporting evidence.

the evidence did not support

Emphasizes that the evidence available does not align with claims.

remained unconfirmed

Highlights the state of something not being confirmed.

lacked proof of

Directly states the absence of proof.

FAQs

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

"Could not corroborate" indicates an inability to confirm or support a statement with evidence. For example: "The police could not corroborate the suspect's alibi."

What are some alternatives to "could not corroborate"?

Alternatives include "unable to verify", "could not confirm", or "could not substantiate", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "could not confirm" or "could not corroborate"?

Both are valid, but "could not corroborate" implies a more thorough investigation seeking supporting evidence. "Could not confirm" is a more general statement of non-confirmation.

What's the difference between "corroborate" and "verify"?

"Corroborate" means to support with evidence, while "verify" means to prove the truth of something. You corroborate a statement by providing supporting details; you verify a fact by demonstrating its accuracy.