is impossible to be

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is impossible to be" is not correct in standard written English.
It can be used in contexts where you want to express that something cannot exist or occur in a certain state. Example: "In this situation, it is impossible to be happy when everything around you is falling apart."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

It is impossible to be smart enough or accomplished enough.

The New York Times

It is impossible to be cynical at the fairground.

The Guardian - Opinion

And I'm afraid it is impossible to be satisfied with a modest portion.

The New York Times - Food

Surely, it is impossible to be a writer without being égoïste.

The New Yorker

Surely, it is impossible to be a writer without being egoiste.

The New Yorker

"It is impossible to be Congolese," he said at one point, "without being continuously outraged".

The New Yorker

"It is impossible to be sure how the markets are going to move," Naismith says.

Independent

Readers React It is impossible to be totally for, or totally against, psychiatric diagnosis.

The New York Times

"It's such a big wrong in the Koran that it is impossible to be accepted".

The New York Times

But the only thing sure is that it is impossible to be sure.

The New York Times

"It is impossible to be agile enough to time the top or the bottom," he added.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer using "cannot be" or "is not possible to be" for clearer and more grammatically correct writing. While "is impossible to be" is frequently used, standard English favors the alternatives.

Common error

Avoid relying too heavily on the phrase "is impossible to be". While understandable, frequent use can make your writing sound awkward or less polished. Opt for more direct and grammatically sound alternatives like "cannot be" or "is not possible to be" to enhance clarity and style.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is impossible to be" functions as a declarative statement expressing impossibility. Although commonly used, as Ludwig examples show, it's not considered grammatically correct. Standard English alternatives like "cannot be" serve the same purpose with improved grammatical structure.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Science

25%

Huffington Post

8%

Less common in

Wikipedia

1%

HuffPost

1%

Vice

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "is impossible to be" is frequently encountered, as demonstrated by Ludwig, it's not considered grammatically correct in standard English. As Ludwig AI indicates, alternatives such as "cannot be" or "is not possible to be" are preferred for clearer and more precise communication, particularly in formal writing. Although widely used across various sources, especially in news and media, adopting the suggested alternatives can enhance the quality and professionalism of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cannot be

Direct replacement with a more grammatically standard construction.

is not possible to be

Rephrasing using "not possible" instead of "impossible".

is unfeasible to be

Using "unfeasible" to indicate impracticality.

is unattainable to be

Using "unattainable" to emphasize the impossibility of achieving something.

is out of the question to be

Expressing that something is not worth considering.

is beyond the realm of possibility to be

A more emphatic way to express impossibility.

is inconceivable to be

Using "inconceivable" to suggest something is unimaginable.

is unthinkable to be

Similar to inconceivable, suggesting something is not acceptable or considered.

is unrealistic to be

Emphasizing the lack of realism or practicality.

is simply not an option to be

Phrasing it as a lack of choice or possibility.

FAQs

What's a more grammatically correct alternative to "is impossible to be"?

The phrases "cannot be" or "is not possible to be" are generally considered more grammatically correct and standard in English.

In what situations might I still encounter "is impossible to be"?

You may encounter the phrase "is impossible to be" in informal speech, older texts, or non-native English writing. However, for formal writing, it's best to use a more standard alternative.

Is "is impossible to be" technically wrong?

While widely used, "is impossible to be" is not considered standard English. Although understandable, it doesn't follow conventional grammatical structure. Using "cannot be" is generally the better choice.

Does using "is impossible to be" make my writing unclear?

While the meaning of "is impossible to be" is usually understood, it can make your writing sound less polished and potentially awkward. Choosing alternatives like "cannot be" can improve the clarity and professionalism of your writing.