impossible to monitor

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "impossible to monitor" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing situations, processes, or systems that cannot be effectively observed or tracked. Example: "Due to the complexity of the network, it is often impossible to monitor all activities in real-time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

(It would be practically impossible to monitor such activities with any reasonable degree of consistent accuracy).

The Guardian - Opinion

Obviously it is virtually impossible to monitor compliance with the erasure requirement.

The New York Times - Science

Such stockpiling is illegal under SALT II because the arms would be impossible to monitor.

The New York Times

Corrections officials say that with so few guards it is impossible to monitor youths adequately and defuse dangerous situations.

The New York Times

"It is going to be impossible to monitor if the companies are actually doing what they say".

The New York Times

But the development of the internet and globilised trade had made it impossible to monitor all sales of vicuña fur.

The Guardian

The removal will make it impossible to monitor production of Russia's new RS-24 mobile multi-warhead ICBMs.

The New York Times

In the late 1980's, limiting contributions to members of the old Board of Estimate from people who did business with the city proved impossible to monitor.

The New York Times

Raising unreasonable expectations is a clever ploy; as the CQC crisis shows, it's impossible to monitor the treatment of a million patients a day.

The Guardian - Opinion

"We are concerned that our principals will be expected to bear the burden of monitoring social media activities that are, in fact, almost impossible to monitor," she said.

The New York Times

WHO experts said that without the more detailed information, it becomes far more difficult, if not impossible, to monitor the worldwide trends of the epidemic.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "impossible to monitor", ensure that the context clearly indicates what specific constraints or limitations make monitoring infeasible. Providing specific reasons (e.g., lack of resources, technological limitations) strengthens the statement.

Common error

Avoid using "impossible to monitor" when the situation is merely difficult or challenging. Reserve it for scenarios where monitoring is genuinely unachievable under any reasonable circumstances. Consider alternatives like "difficult to monitor" or "hard to track" for less extreme situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "impossible to monitor" functions as a descriptive phrase, typically modifying a noun or pronoun. It asserts the inability to observe or track something effectively. This aligns with the examples found by Ludwig, where various scenarios render monitoring unachievable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

26%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "impossible to monitor" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe situations where observation or tracking is not feasible. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides numerous examples from reputable sources. While it appears frequently in news and media, it also finds usage in scientific and formal business contexts. It is important to reserve this phrase for situations where monitoring is genuinely unachievable, rather than merely difficult. Alternatives such as "unfeasible to keep track of" and "not possible to oversee" can be considered depending on the specific context. Always be sure to provide adequate context when using it to fully convey the reasons behind the infeasibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

impossible to keep under surveillance

Emphasizes the inability to maintain observation over a period of time, including the term "surveillance".

not possible to oversee

Substitutes "monitor" with "oversee", implying a lack of supervisory capacity.

cannot be kept track of

Expresses the impossibility of maintaining an awareness of something's whereabouts or progress.

infeasible to observe

Replaces "monitor" with "observe", focusing on the act of visual inspection and uses "infeasible" which means not practical or realistic.

impractical to supervise

Emphasizes the impracticality of managing or directing something, replacing "monitor" with a more direct form of supervision.

unfeasible to keep track of

Replaces "monitor" with a broader synonym and uses "unfeasible" to emphasize impracticality.

not amenable to tracking

Indicates that something cannot be easily followed or traced.

unmanageable to watch over

Suggests that something is too difficult to keep an eye on, which is close to monitoring.

beyond surveillance

Highlights that something is outside the scope of observation.

not able to be watched

Uses simpler language to express the inability to observe something.

FAQs

What does "impossible to monitor" mean?

The phrase "impossible to monitor" means that something cannot be effectively tracked, observed, or supervised due to various limitations or constraints.

What are some alternatives to "impossible to monitor"?

You can use alternatives like "unfeasible to keep track of", "not possible to oversee", or "beyond surveillance" depending on the context.

How can I use "impossible to monitor" in a sentence?

You might say, "Due to the complexity of the system, it is often "impossible to monitor" all activities in real-time" or "Without sufficient resources, it becomes "impossible to monitor" the progress of each individual case."

Is it better to say "difficult to monitor" or "impossible to monitor"?

Use "difficult to monitor" when something is challenging to track but still feasible. Use "impossible to monitor" when tracking is genuinely unachievable. The choice depends on the specific context and the extent of the limitations involved.