it can be upheld

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it can be upheld" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the validity or support of an argument, decision, or principle. Example: "The court ruled that the previous decision can be upheld based on the evidence presented."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

But given that it hasn't done so, it seems to me that it's — not only is it fair to read this as an exercise of the tax power, but this Court has got an obligation to construe it as an exercise of the tax power, if it can be upheld on that basis".

The New York Times

The second argument is that the penalty imposed for non-compliance is, in effect, a tax, and as such it can be upheld under Congress's very broad power to tax.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

This film repeats the usual conservative agenda of family, courtship and marriage, but it proposes that Indian family values are portable assets that can be upheld regardless of country of residence.

Wikipedia

But it would be a mistake to allow this platitude to lead us to doubt that a distinction can be upheld, for although invention-talk entails the possibility of discovery-talk, the reverse is not true.

SEP

"Only when agreements in Europe can be upheld, can we rebuild trust".

The New York Times

And we believe for that reason we should prevail because I don't think legally that can be upheld".

The Guardian - Sport

Professor Aumann built on Professor Schelling's work to analyse so-called infinitely repeated games and identify what outcomes can be upheld over time in long-run relations.

The Guardian - Business

Principles can be upheld without micromanagement.Another worry is the fact that such a weighty document was passed under a cloud of bureaucratic obscurity, almost unnoticed by the world, except for some lobby groups which welcomed it.

The Economist

The Metropolitan Police has asked groups planning to demonstrate during or in advance of Margaret Thatcher's funeral to make themselves known to officers so that their "right to protest can be upheld".

Independent

"If a broad ban on firearms can be upheld based on conjecture that the public might feel safer (while being no safer at all), then the Second Amendment guarantees nothing," the dissent argued.

The Guardian

As we await for updates on the second day of the hearings, both sides of the debate took note of an exchange between Supreme Court Justice John Roberts and Greg Katsas, a plantiff attorney opposed to the individual mandate, that is sparking debate over how Justice Roberts may be framing the question on whether the individual mandate can be upheld on a constitutional basis.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it can be upheld" when discussing whether a decision, principle, or argument remains valid or supportable, especially in legal or formal contexts.

Common error

While "it can be upheld" is grammatically correct, overuse of passive voice can make your writing sound weak. Consider rephrasing to use active voice when possible to make your writing more direct and impactful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it can be upheld" functions as a modal phrase expressing the possibility or ability for something (a decision, principle, etc.) to be supported, validated, or maintained. Ludwig AI examples show its usage in legal, philosophical, and general contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

7%

Academia

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it can be upheld" is a versatile expression indicating the potential for something to be supported or maintained. Ludwig AI confirms it's grammatically sound and appropriate for diverse contexts, including legal, scientific, and general discussions. While alternatives like "it can be sustained" or "it can be maintained" offer subtle variations in meaning, "it can be upheld" remains a reliable and widely understood choice. Be mindful of overusing passive voice for stronger, more direct writing. Its frequent appearance in news, science, and wiki sources suggests its broad applicability across various domains.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it can be sustained

Replaces "upheld" with "sustained", focusing on the ability to maintain something over time.

it can be maintained

Uses "maintained" instead of "upheld", emphasizing the act of keeping something in its current state.

it can be supported

Replaces "upheld" with "supported", highlighting the availability of evidence or arguments in favor of something.

it is sustainable

Focuses on the inherent quality of being able to be maintained or continued, using "sustainable" as an adjective.

it can be validated

Emphasizes the confirmation or justification of something, using "validated" as a stronger term for confirmation.

it is defensible

Highlights the ability to be justified or defended against criticism.

it is justifiable

Similar to defensible, focusing on the inherent rightness or fairness of something.

it can be justified

Shifts from an inherent quality to an action that can be taken.

it is tenable

Describes something as being able to be defended or maintained against attack or objection.

it can be substantiated

Emphasizes the provision of evidence to support a claim.

FAQs

How to use "it can be upheld" in a sentence?

You can use "it can be upheld" to express that a decision, principle, or argument is valid and supportable. For example, "The court ruled that the previous decision "can be upheld" based on the new evidence presented."

What can I say instead of "it can be upheld"?

Alternatives to "it can be upheld" include phrases such as "it can be sustained", "it can be maintained", or "it can be supported", depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "it can be upheld" or "it could be upheld"?

Both "it can be upheld" and "it could be upheld" are grammatically correct, but they convey different meanings. "It can be upheld" suggests a present possibility, while "it could be upheld" implies a conditional or less certain possibility.

What's the difference between "it is upheld" and "it can be upheld"?

"It is upheld" indicates that something is currently being supported or maintained, while "it can be upheld" suggests a potential or future possibility of being supported or maintained.