is not attainable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is not attainable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express that something cannot be achieved or reached, often in contexts discussing goals, objectives, or desires. Example: "The level of perfection he seeks is not attainable in this lifetime."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It may inspire desperate enterprizes for the attainment of what is not attainable by legitimate means.

University of Chicago

conditions is not attainable through a less radical route.

Princeton University

It may be that a certain kind of writing is not attainable anymore".

The New York Times - Magazine

"That kind of lifestyle, that kind of mind-set, is not attainable.

The New York Times

A college education is a privilege that is not attainable for many, so why can inmates anywhere in the U.S.A.get one for "free"?

University of California, Berkeley

Incumbents say that the conservative purity craved by Tea Party groups is not attainable and that their records are more than appealing to Republican voters.

The New York Times

In particular, it is shown that the performance calculated by an earlier black-box approach is not attainable by technically and economically realistic systems.

Energy

Since perfect decorrelation between the closed-loop output and the disturbance is not attainable with a restricted-complexity controller, the cross-correlation of these two signals is minimised.

European Journal of Control

Not another article that ignores so much about what a place like London, a place where black and brown people live and have claimed spaces, brings to some of us and that is not attainable elsewhere.

The Guardian - Opinion

At the age of 19, she thought of becoming a priest, which in theory wasn't too far off from her original goals but in practicality was not (and is not) attainable for Catholic women.

University of California, Berkeley

This might suggest that the 100percentt blending is not attainable and an alternative method such as the one presented in this paper could be a better tool to evaluate the composite asphalt binder in mixtures with high RAP content.

Construction and Building Materials

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "is not attainable", consider the audience and context. It's often used to temper expectations or provide a realistic assessment of a situation. For instance, you can say that "perfection is not attainable" to encourage progress over aiming for an impossible standard.

Common error

Be mindful of using "is not attainable" when a more nuanced description would be appropriate. Sometimes, things are difficult but not completely impossible, and using phrases like "challenging to achieve" or "unlikely to be attained" might be more accurate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is not attainable" functions as a predicate adjective, describing a noun or concept as being impossible to achieve. It often appears after a linking verb (is) to attribute the quality of unattainability to a subject. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

36%

News & Media

31%

Academia

22%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

8%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is not attainable" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote something impossible to achieve. Analysis by Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and wide applicability. Appearing most often in scientific, news, and academic contexts, it serves to temper expectations or provide a realistic assessment. When employing this phrase, consider the potential for nuance and whether a less absolute term might be more fitting. Alternatives such as "is unachievable" or "is beyond reach" may provide a more subtle indication of possibility. While "perfection is not attainable", striving for it can still lead to excellence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is unattainable

A direct synonym, though slightly less common.

is unachievable

Direct synonym, focusing on the inability to achieve the goal.

is beyond reach

Emphasizes the distance and difficulty in reaching the desired outcome.

is impossible

Highlights the absolute impossibility of the task.

cannot be achieved

Formal and passive way of stating the unattainability.

is out of the question

Implies that something should not even be considered.

is unfeasible

Focuses on the impracticality of achieving the goal.

is unrealistic

Highlights the lack of realism in expecting the goal to be reached.

is a pipe dream

Suggests that the goal is merely a pleasant fantasy.

is not within the realm of possibility

A more verbose way of emphasizing the impossibility.

FAQs

How can I use "is not attainable" in a sentence?

You can use "is not attainable" to express that a goal, objective, or state is impossible to reach. For example, "Absolute zero is not attainable in a practical setting" or "Complete equality is not attainable, but we should still strive for it".

What are some alternatives to "is not attainable"?

Some alternatives include "is unachievable", "is beyond reach", "is impossible", or "cannot be achieved". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "unattainable" or "is not attainable"?

Both "unattainable" and "is not attainable" are grammatically correct and convey the same meaning. "Unattainable" is a single word, which can sometimes make your writing more concise, while "is not attainable" might sound more natural in certain sentence structures.

When is it appropriate to use "is not attainable" in writing?

It's appropriate to use "is not attainable" when you want to convey that something is impossible to achieve, often to manage expectations or to provide a realistic assessment. However, consider the impact of such definitive language and whether a less absolute term might be more fitting.