examine possible

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "examine possible" is not correct in English as it lacks a noun to complete the thought.
It could be used in a context where you want to suggest looking into potential options or outcomes, but it needs to be part of a larger phrase. Example: "We need to examine possible solutions to this problem."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In telephone interviews they said they would examine possible halls, hotels and travel arrangements.

The New York Times - Arts

He has said that he is cooperating with a university panel that Baylor appointed to examine possible N.C.A.A. violations.

The New York Times - Sports

-TOPIC 3: THE ECONOMICS -These groups examine possible economic advantages and disadvantages to exploring and not exploring the refuge.

The New York Times

-TOPIC 4: THE ENVIRONMENT -These groups examine possible environmental advantages and disadvantages to exploring and not exploring the refuge.

The New York Times

Meanwhile, Baylor has formed a committee to examine possible N.C.A.A. violations by the men's basketball program involving Dennehy.

The New York Times - Sports

A website set up to examine possible cuts received only 1,500 comments as of the end of July.

The Guardian - Opinion

A scouting expedition led by Thomas Krens, director of the Guggenheim, visited four cities this month to examine possible sites for one or more Guggenheim branches in Brazil.

The New York Times - Arts

In Milan, Italy's financial capital, officials said a judicial investigation would be opened to examine possible charges of fraud and providing falsified information to auditors.

The New York Times

The Swiss investigating magistrate, Georges Zecchin, is expected to examine possible charges against Swiss financial intermediaries at a later stage of the investigation.

The Guardian

JP Morgan, for instance, has just sent a team of mining experts to Afghanistan to examine possible projects to develop.

The New York Times

Molecular modelling is employed to examine possible conformations.

Polymer

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "examine possible" only when you want to emphasize the act of looking into a range of potential options before making a decision.

Common error

Avoid using "examine possible" as a standalone phrase. It needs a noun to complete its meaning. For example, instead of saying "We will examine possible", specify what you will examine: "We will examine "possible solutions"".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "examine possible" functions as a verb phrase requiring a noun to complete its meaning. It's used to introduce the act of investigating or considering potential options, outcomes, or courses of action. Despite its frequent use, Ludwig AI points out that it's grammatically flawed without a noun.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

53%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "examine possible" is widely used across various contexts, particularly in scientific and news publications, it is grammatically incomplete without a noun. Ludwig AI identifies the expression as grammatically flawed. To ensure clarity and correctness, always append a noun to specify what is being examined, such as "solutions", "outcomes", or "causes". Alternatives like "investigate potential" or "explore potential" can also be used depending on the context. Pay attention to source authority, as most examples come from reputable news and scientific sources, and use the phrase judiciously to maintain grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

investigate potential

Replaces "examine" with "investigate" emphasizing a more thorough inquiry, and "possible" with "potential", which carries a similar meaning.

explore potential

Substitutes "examine" with "explore", suggesting a broader, less structured investigation of potential options.

assess feasibility

Replaces "examine possible" with a phrase that focuses on evaluating the practicality and viability of something.

analyze prospects

Replaces "examine" with "analyze", suggesting a more detailed and methodical review of potential future outcomes.

review possibilities

Substitutes "examine" with "review", indicating a more cursory or high-level assessment of potential options.

consider options

Replaces the entire phrase with a simpler, more general expression indicating a review of available choices.

evaluate alternatives

Similar to "consider options", but with a stronger emphasis on comparing different choices.

check viability

Focuses specifically on assessing whether something is capable of working or succeeding.

study implications

Emphasizes a deeper investigation into the potential consequences or effects of something.

determine likelihood

Shifts the focus to assessing the probability or chance of something happening.

FAQs

How can I use "examine possible" correctly in a sentence?

The phrase "examine possible" requires a noun to complete its meaning. Use it as "examine possible solutions", "examine possible causes", or "examine possible outcomes".

What are some alternatives to "examine possible"?

You can use alternatives like "investigate potential", "explore potential", or "assess feasibility" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "examine possible" without a noun?

No, it is grammatically incorrect. The phrase needs a noun to specify what is being examined. Ludwig AI identifies the expression as grammatically flawed.

What's the difference between "examine possible solutions" and "determine likely solutions"?

"Examine "possible solutions"" suggests a broader investigation of various options, while "determine likely solutions" implies identifying the most probable or effective solutions.