do not admit of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "do not admit of" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is often used in more formal or academic writing. Example: These results do not admit of a single interpretation and require further analysis to fully understand their implications.

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

The reasonable limits of an opinion do not admit of its extended discussion.

Cornell University

The words of the statute do not admit of the qualification upon which the applicant insists.

Cornell University

Logical puzzles do not admit of a standard procedure or generalized pattern for their solution and are usually solved by some trial-and-error method.

Encyclopedia Britannica

For all faculties of the soul, or capacities, are reducible to three, which do not admit of any further derivation from a common ground: the faculty of knowledge, the feeling of pleasure or displeasure, and the faculty of desire.

University of California, Berkeley

Other apprehensions have to do with the fact that most extensions of first-order logic do not admit of a complete axiomatization; i.e., their truths cannot all be derived from any finite or recursive (see below)—set of axioms.

Encyclopedia Britannica

No doubt, these creations are mortal; ridicule sometimes kills them, satiety may bring neglect, fashion may replace them by others; and unlike works of art they do not admit of authentic interpretation.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

Instead, Fodor suggests that they are acquired via processes that are largely biological in that they don't admit of a psychological-level description.

SEP

We observed in section 1.1.4 that "value" claims don't admit of comparatives in the same way that other uses of "good" do; this is important here because if "better" simpliciter is prior to "good" simpliciter, then strictly speaking a "good-first" theorist needs to offer a Fitting Attitudes account of "better", rather than of "good".

SEP

Substance, then, does not admit of variation of degree.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The category of quantity, therefore, does not admit of variation of degree.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The Wye meeting will not be allowed to fail; diplomacy does not admit of public flops.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "do not admit of" in formal writing when you want to emphasize that something fundamentally cannot allow or accommodate something else.

Common error

Avoid using "do not admit of" in casual conversations or informal writing. Simpler alternatives like "doesn't allow" or "cannot include" are usually more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "do not admit of" functions as a predicate in a sentence, indicating a lack of possibility or allowance for something. Ludwig's examples demonstrate that the phrase is often used to express that a particular situation, rule, or set of facts does not permit a certain outcome or interpretation.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Academia

30%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

News & Media

20%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "do not admit of" is a grammatically correct expression primarily used in formal contexts to indicate that something does not allow or permit a particular outcome, interpretation, or possibility. Ludwig's analysis indicates that it functions as a predicate, serving to express impossibility or exclusion in academic, scientific, and legal writing. The phrase is considered uncommon in everyday language but finds frequent application in scenarios where precision and a formal tone are necessary. While Ludwig confirms the correctness of the phrase, it advises against overuse in informal contexts, suggesting simpler alternatives for casual communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

does not permit

Indicates that something is not allowed or possible.

rules out

Indicates that something is not a possibility or option.

leaves no room for

Suggests that something prevents the possibility of something else.

cannot allow

Implies a prohibition or inability to permit something.

refuses to accept

Implies a rejection or denial of something.

excludes

Signifies the act of leaving something out or not including it.

cannot accommodate

Suggests an inability to include or adjust to something.

cannot entertain

Suggests an unwillingness to consider an idea or possibility.

precludes

Formally indicates prevention or exclusion.

will not tolerate

Indicates a lack of acceptance and a potential active opposition.

FAQs

How can I use "do not admit of" in a sentence?

You can use "do not admit of" to indicate that something does not allow or permit something else. For instance, "The rules do not admit of any exceptions" or "The evidence does not admit of a different interpretation".

What are some alternatives to "do not admit of"?

Some alternatives include "does not permit", "cannot allow", or "precludes", depending on the specific context.

Is it more formal to say "do not admit of" or "doesn't allow"?

"Do not admit of" is generally considered more formal than "doesn't allow". Use "do not admit of" in academic or professional writing when a more elevated tone is desired.

When is it inappropriate to use "do not admit of"?

It might be inappropriate to use "do not admit of" in casual conversation or informal writing. Simpler alternatives like "doesn't allow" or "cannot include" are better suited for those contexts.