is impossible to enumerate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is impossible to enumerate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a situation or a set of items that cannot be counted or listed comprehensively. Example: "The number of stars in the universe is impossible to enumerate due to their vastness."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

For, besides other reasons, it is impossible to enumerate its accidental attributes, which are infinite in number; let him, then, enumerate either all or none.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Since it is impossible to enumerate the merits and drawbacks of all of existing distribution models, we emphasize four advances of headway distribution modeling in this paper.

Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies

"It is impossible to enumerate all the important literary works which were ignored, jeered at, or savagely slashed by critics in the nineteenth century, 'the age of criticism,' " the Yale French professor Henri Peyre observed, in a delightful diatribe from 1944.

The New Yorker

Therefore it is impossible to enumerate all patterns within a reasonable time.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

It is impossible to enumerate the many hours of anguish such a person must spend.

Wikipedia

However, it is impossible to enumerate all possible estimation methods.

BMC Genomics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

It was impossible to count".

Wikipedia

It is impossible to predict.

The Economist

He is impossible to dislike.

The New York Times - Sports

"It is impossible to forget".

The New York Times

It is impossible to know.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is impossible to enumerate" when you want to convey that listing all elements of something is not feasible due to their vast number or complexity.

Common error

Avoid using "is impossible to enumerate" in situations where a simple "cannot be counted" or "too many to list" would suffice. Overusing formal language can make your writing sound pretentious.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is impossible to enumerate" functions as a descriptive expression, indicating that a complete listing or counting of something is not feasible. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is impossible to enumerate" serves as a formal expression to denote the infeasibility of completely listing or counting something due to its vastness or complexity. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and well-suited for formal contexts such as scientific, academic, and professional writing. While alternatives like "cannot be counted" or "too numerous to list" exist, this particular phrase adds a layer of sophistication to the writing. When using this phrase, ensure that the context genuinely warrants its formality; otherwise, simpler alternatives might be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cannot be exhaustively listed

Focuses on the limitation of listing all items completely.

cannot be completely counted

Emphasizes the inability to count all items accurately.

is beyond enumeration

Highlights that the task of enumeration is not feasible.

defies complete listing

Suggests a resistance to being fully listed.

is unquantifiable

Focuses on the inability to quantify the items.

is countless

Implies that items are too many to count.

cannot be tallied

Highlights the infeasibility of tallying all items.

is too numerous to mention

Emphasizes the high quantity of items.

is beyond calculation

Stresses the impossibility of calculating the items.

is immeasurable

Indicates the items cannot be measured or assessed.

FAQs

How can I use "is impossible to enumerate" in a sentence?

You can use "is impossible to enumerate" to describe a situation where something cannot be completely counted or listed. For example, "The possible outcomes of the experiment "is impossible to enumerate" due to the complexity of the variables involved."

What are some alternatives to "is impossible to enumerate"?

Alternatives include "cannot be exhaustively listed", "is beyond enumeration", or "is unquantifiable", depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

Is it more appropriate to use "is impossible to enumerate" or "cannot be counted"?

"Is impossible to enumerate" is generally more formal than "cannot be counted". Use the former in academic or professional contexts where a more sophisticated tone is desired, and the latter in more casual writing.

What is the difference between "is impossible to enumerate" and "is difficult to enumerate"?

"Is impossible to enumerate" indicates a complete inability to list or count all items, whereas "is difficult to enumerate" suggests that it is possible, but challenging. The former emphasizes a higher degree of infeasibility.