it can be discerned

USAGE SUMMARY

"it can be discerned" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means that something can be understood or perceived. Example: In this photograph, the faint outline of a castle can be discerned in the background.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

It can be discerned by the (sometimes subtle or gradual) change in the content of the messages.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The same feature of the drought that made it so destructive -- its vast size -- also raises scientists' hopes that the forces that conspired to create it can be discerned.

The New York Times

The subject of "Letter from an Unknown Woman" is the essence of character as it can be discerned from appearances, and Ophüls's bravura camerawork and decorative sense conjure an exquisitely calibrated romanticism.

The New Yorker

It can be discerned throughout his own discography and in some of his work as a sideman, notably with the singers Carmen McRae and Jimmy Rushing, and on albums like Dizzy Gillespie's "Sonny Side Up," on Verve.

The New York Times - Arts

Europe's strategy, to the extent it can be discerned, is to put off restructuring Greece's debt as long as possible and build up enough backing for a bailout fund so that banks with large exposure to the sovereign debt of Greece and other troubled euro-zone countries, like Portugal, Ireland, Italy and Spain, can survive an all-but-inevitable Greek default.

The New York Times

Europe's strategy, to the extent it can be discerned, is to postpone a restructuring of Greek debt as long as possible, building enough backing for a bailout fund so that banks with large exposure to the sovereign debt of Greece and other troubled euro zone countries, like Portugal, Ireland, Italy and Spain, can survive an all-but-inevitable Greek default.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

Whilst the effect of a cytokine on one lymphocyte subset in SS can be discerned, it has become a challenge to understand how the interaction between several interconnected networks of cytokines impact on so many different cell populations.

Arthritis Research and Therapy

If a generalizable pattern to the data can be discerned, it is simply that case counts in FAERS tend to increase for approximately the first three quarters after a drug's approval date and then stay relatively constant for at least the next 13 quarters thereafter.

Drug Safety

It will require the ability to organize that information so that patterns can be discerned within it; to recognize unexpected connections between disparate bodies of knowledge; to apply the tools of logic and moral reasoning in order to extract true understanding; and to muster the courage to draw conclusions and then change your mind when new facts come to light.

Princeton University

It is widely claimed that biological networks exhibit modularity [ 40] but it is not clear whether modularity can be discerned in large network graphs.

BMC Systems Biology

No angel, Jewish or otherwise, can be discerned in it.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it can be discerned" when you want to express that something is not immediately obvious but can be understood through careful observation or analysis.

Common error

Avoid overusing passive voice constructions like "it can be discerned". Opt for active voice when possible to make your writing more direct and engaging. For example, instead of "it can be discerned", consider "we can discern" or "one can discern".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it can be discerned" functions as a passive construction used to indicate that something is capable of being understood or perceived through careful observation or analysis. As Ludwig AI explains, it suggests a level of effort is required to notice or understand something.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

33%

Academia

13%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it can be discerned" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to indicate that something is capable of being understood or perceived, though not immediately obvious. As Ludwig AI confirms, it implies a degree of effort or analysis. It's often used in formal and scientific contexts, particularly in science, news, and academic writing. While effective, writers should be mindful of overusing passive voice and consider more direct alternatives when appropriate. Examples show that the meaning of "it can be discerned" can also be expressed through phrases such as "it is possible to detect" or "it is apparent", with slight variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it is possible to detect

Replaces 'discerned' with 'detect', focusing on the act of discovering something.

it is possible to perceive

Uses 'perceive' instead of 'discern', highlighting the sensory aspect of understanding.

it is apparent

Simplifies the phrase to indicate that something is easily noticeable.

it is evident

Similar to 'apparent', but emphasizes the clarity and obviousness of something.

it is noticeable

Focuses on the fact that something is easily seen or observed.

it is understandable

Shifts the focus to the comprehensibility of something.

it is recognizable

Highlights the ability to identify something clearly.

it is deducible

Emphasizes the ability to infer something from the available information.

one can gather

Emphasizes the action of collecting or inferring something from information available.

one may infer

Uses 'infer' to highlight the logical deduction of something.

FAQs

How can I use "it can be discerned" in a sentence?

Use "it can be discerned" to indicate that something is not immediately obvious but is capable of being understood or perceived through careful observation. For instance, "From the data, "it can be discerned" that there is a correlation between exercise and improved mood".

What are some alternatives to "it can be discerned"?

You can use alternatives like "it is apparent", "it is evident", or "it is noticeable" depending on the context.

Is "it can be discerned" formal or informal?

"It can be discerned" is generally considered to be a more formal expression. In informal contexts, simpler alternatives like "it is clear" or "you can see" might be more appropriate.

What is the difference between "it can be discerned" and "it is obvious"?

"It can be discerned" implies that some effort or analysis is required to understand something, while "it is obvious" suggests that something is immediately and easily understood without much effort.