it cannot be determined

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it cannot be determined" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing uncertainty or the inability to reach a conclusion about a particular situation or question. Example: "Based on the available data, it cannot be determined whether the new policy will be effective."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

It cannot be determined how representative the Survation sample is because of a lack of various socioeconomic and demographic details.

The Guardian

It cannot be determined from the information given.

The New York Times

It cannot be determined if that's a good or bad amazing, but one thing is certain: there will be a lot to talk about on the drive home.

The New York Times

It cannot be determined a priori but only by whatever is the appropriate method for discovering a fact of that kind.

Encyclopedia Britannica

If it "cannot be determined for which candidate those illegal votes were counted", Mr Coleman argues, then, well, something will happen.

The Economist

It cannot be determined whether migraine causes EDS or vice versa.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

For example, it cannot be determined from our data whether higher helplessness, depression, and passive coping scores caused a heightened perception of functional limitation or vice versa.

Arthritis Research and Therapy

63, 64 Interestingly, while this may be true, it cannot be determined that such activity is performing an exclusively temporal function, representing duration per se.

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences

Due to their implementation at overlapping times, it cannot be determined to what degree each recruitment technique would succeed individually.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

For RU type S, which is found in chimpanzee VNTRs only, it cannot be determined precisely from which other RU it has been derived.

BMC Genomics

It cannot be determined from these results whether the attenuation of the gelonin content in the tumour tissue is due to elimination into the blood or intratumoral degradation.

British Journal of Cancer

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it cannot be determined", ensure that the reason for the indeterminacy is clear from the context. This provides transparency and helps the reader understand the limitations of the information presented.

Common error

Avoid using "it cannot be determined" when some information is available, even if incomplete. Instead, acknowledge the limitations of the data rather than suggesting a complete absence of knowledge.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it cannot be determined" functions as a statement of epistemic uncertainty. It indicates that, based on the available evidence or methods, a definitive conclusion or judgment is not possible. Ludwig confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

77%

News & Media

15%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it cannot be determined" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to express the impossibility of reaching a conclusion based on available data. Ludwig confirms its correctness and highlights its prevalence across scientific, news, and formal business contexts. When using this phrase, be mindful to clearly indicate why a conclusion is not possible and avoid overstating the indeterminacy when some information is available. Consider using alternative phrases, such as "it remains unclear" or "it is not possible to determine", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it's impossible to ascertain

Uses "impossible" instead of "cannot" to emphasize the difficulty in finding something out.

it's not possible to determine

Substitutes "cannot" with "not possible" to determine to convey a similar meaning.

it remains unclear

Focuses on the lack of clarity, implying that determination is not yet possible.

the answer is not discernible

Highlights the inability to perceive or recognize the answer.

no conclusion can be drawn

Emphasizes the absence of a logical inference based on available information.

it is not possible to conclude

Shifts the focus to the impossibility of reaching a final judgment.

the data is inconclusive

Indicates that the available information does not lead to a definite result.

it is uncertain

Highlights the lack of certainty, implying that determination is not yet possible.

it is not known

Simple substitution that stresses the lack of knowledge.

the matter is unresolved

Implies that the problem or question has not been solved or decided.

FAQs

How can I use "it cannot be determined" in a sentence?

Use "it cannot be determined" when you want to express that a conclusion is impossible to reach based on the available information. For instance, "Based on current evidence, it cannot be determined whether the treatment is effective".

What can I say instead of "it cannot be determined"?

You can use alternatives like "it remains unclear", "it is not possible to determine", or "the data is inconclusive" depending on the context.

Is "it cannot be determined" formal or informal?

"It cannot be determined" is generally considered formal and suitable for academic, scientific, or professional writing. In more casual contexts, you might opt for simpler alternatives like "we don't know" or "it's unclear".

What's the difference between "it cannot be determined" and "it is not known"?

While both phrases indicate a lack of knowledge, "it cannot be determined" emphasizes an inability to reach a conclusion based on available information, whereas "it is not known" simply states that the information is currently unavailable, without necessarily implying that it's impossible to find out.