he cannot be found

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he cannot be found" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when indicating that someone is missing or unreachable. Example: "Despite searching for hours, he cannot be found anywhere in the vicinity."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Article 12 provides that the Tribunal has the right to proceed against a defendant in his absence if he cannot be found, or if for other reasons the Tribunal deems it necessary in the interests of justice.

Yale University

We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Existing tributes will also be removed if the relatives who left them cannot be found.

The Guardian

There is just one problem: they cannot be found by search.

TechCrunch

He says the solution cannot be found in the control of the market.

The Guardian

His PhD theses cannot be located, the supercomputer he claims to have built cannot be found, and the support letter from SGI doesn't read like any other support letter I've seen.

MIT Technology Review

The man he is supposed to be replacing cannot be found; instead, a mysterious neighbour has taken up residence in the island's lighthouse.

The Guardian - Books

The door to talks with unions remains open, he said, but if a solution cannot be found, the service units might have to be sold.

The Economist

"These visual materials bear information that cannot be found in texts," he says.

The Guardian

"This CANNOT be found in a brain-dead patient," he wrote.

The New Yorker

"Problems arise when a replacement cannot be found at the same or better rent," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "he cannot be found", ensure the context clearly establishes who "he" refers to, especially in longer texts. This avoids ambiguity and maintains clarity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid relying too heavily on passive constructions like "he cannot be found" when active voice would be more direct and engaging. Consider rephrasing to "someone cannot find him" to create a more active and dynamic sentence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he cannot be found" functions as a passive construction, indicating the inability to locate a specific person. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English, conveying the idea that someone is missing or unreachable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

50%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "he cannot be found" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase indicating someone is missing or unreachable, as validated by Ludwig AI. While it is not exceptionally common, occurring mostly in news and academic contexts, it effectively communicates the inability to locate a specific individual. For alternative expressions, consider "he is untraceable" or "he can't be located". When writing, ensure clarity by explicitly stating to whom "he" refers. Avoid overuse of passive voice by considering active rephrasing when appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he is untraceable

This alternative focuses on the inability to trace or track the person.

he can't be located

This indicates an inability to pinpoint his precise location.

he is missing

This alternative is a straightforward statement of absence.

he is nowhere to be seen

This alternative emphasizes the lack of visual presence.

he is not locatable

This suggests a failure to determine his current location.

he has disappeared

This implies a sudden and unexplained absence.

he is not present

This is a general statement indicating his absence from a specific place or situation.

he is unfindable

This highlights the difficulty or impossibility of finding him.

his whereabouts are unknown

This emphasizes that his current location is not known.

he is out of reach

This suggests that he is unreachable or inaccessible.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "he cannot be found" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using alternatives such as "he is untraceable", "he is not locatable", or "his whereabouts are unknown". These options convey a sense of seriousness and detachment.

What does it imply when someone says "he cannot be found"?

It generally implies that efforts to locate the person have been unsuccessful, suggesting they are either missing, deliberately avoiding contact, or their location is currently unknown.

Is there a difference between "he cannot be found" and "he can't be located"?

The phrases are very similar in meaning. "He cannot be found" is a more general statement of absence, while "he can't be located" /s/he+can't+be+located specifically implies the inability to determine his precise location.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "he cannot be found"?

It's appropriate when you want to emphasize the unsuccessful efforts to locate someone, whether in a literal or figurative sense. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts.