it cannot be the case that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it cannot be the case that" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express a strong assertion that a particular situation or condition is impossible or untrue. Example: "It cannot be the case that all the evidence points to his guilt while he remains innocent."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

Finally, (15) states that for any argument to which we assign undecided, it cannot be the case that all its attackers are false or that one of them is true.

Artificial Intelligence

But it cannot be the case that every investor has both functions at once.

Stanford University

Equally, it cannot be the case that CO2 causes warming as well as cooling.

The Guardian

For another, it cannot be the case that 80% or 90% of all private activity becomes genuinely unproductive overnight.

The Guardian - Business

Surely it cannot be the case that whenever a controlling stockholder can vote against a sale the out voted minority can assert a coercion claim.

Harvard University

It cannot be the case that any criticism of capitalism is received as leftwing Keynesian welfarism, and any public sector reform as an attack on the poor.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

Since one cannot undergo a state with contradictory conceptual contents, and yet the waterfall illusion is a perceptual state with contradictory content the object perceived seems to be both moving and not moving it cannot be the case that perception involves conceptual contents (for more on this argument see, e.g., Mellor 1988, Crane 1988b, Crane 1992, and Gunther 2001).

SEP

So it cannot surely be the case that it lessens competition in any specific market.

The Guardian

Losers are generally ignored, but that cannot be the case with Holland.

The Guardian - Sport

But that cannot be the case for readers of the Daily Star.

The Guardian

And that simply cannot be the case.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it cannot be the case that" to introduce a strong contradiction or to refute a claim directly. It adds emphasis and clarity to your argument.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "it cannot be the case that" is quite formal. Avoid using it in casual conversations; opt for simpler alternatives like "that's not true" or "that's impossible".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it cannot be the case that" functions as a strong declarative statement used to express impossibility or contradiction. It serves to negate a proposition with emphasis. Ludwig examples show its use in academic, news, and opinion contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it cannot be the case that" is a useful construct for emphatically negating a statement. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. Its frequency is classified as uncommon, predominantly appearing in science, news, and academic texts. While versatile, it leans towards a more formal register. For simpler denials, consider "that cannot be true". When aiming for a straightforward impossibility assertion, "it is impossible that" will usually be suitable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it is not possible that

More direct and less idiomatic phrasing.

it is impossible that

Emphasizes the impossibility of the situation.

that cannot be true

Focuses on the truth value of a statement.

it simply isn't the case that

Adds a sense of finality or obviousness.

it's not conceivable that

Highlights the lack of plausibility.

there's no way that

Informal phrasing expressing disbelief.

it defies reason to think that

Emphasizes the illogical nature of the idea.

it's out of the question that

Indicates that something is not even worth considering.

under no circumstances is it the case that

More emphatic and formal negation.

it beggars belief that

Expresses astonishment or disbelief.

FAQs

How can I use "it cannot be the case that" in a sentence?

Use "it cannot be the case that" to strongly deny or contradict a statement. For example, "It cannot be the case that all politicians are corrupt."

What can I say instead of "it cannot be the case that"?

You can use alternatives like "it is not possible that", "it is impossible that", or "that cannot be true" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "it cannot be the case that" or "it is not the case that"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct. However, "it cannot be the case that" expresses a stronger sense of impossibility or contradiction compared to "it is not the case that".

What's the difference between "it cannot be the case that" and "it is unlikely that"?

"It cannot be the case that" expresses certainty that something is false, while "it is unlikely that" suggests a lower probability but doesn't rule out the possibility.