it cannot proceed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it cannot proceed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when indicating that something cannot continue or move forward due to certain circumstances or conditions. Example: "Due to the lack of funding, the project cannot proceed as planned."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Its directive to obey its operator has been overridden by the knowledge that it cannot proceed.

TechCrunch

Turkey told it cannot proceed with membership negotiations because of popular opposition.

The Guardian

The airport has since told ANC it cannot proceed, an airport spokeswoman, Barbara Hogan, said.

The New York Times

Just as the case cannot properly proceed against Ms Contostavlos, so also it cannot proceed properly against him.

The Guardian

Although the I.O.C. considers the Turin case open, it has acknowledged that it cannot proceed without evidence from the Italian police because none of the Austrian athletes failed the drug tests they took on the evening of the raid.

The New York Times - Sports

It cannot proceed as if Hurricanes Katrina and Rita were simply aberrations.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

"I cannot play it because at the very beginning of the game there is a section of the game that is so offensive to my religious beliefs that I cannot proceed with it any further.

Vice

The transit system holds the key to building a proposed football stadium on the West Side, and without it, the project cannot proceed.

The New York Times

Deadlock is "a condition in a system where a process cannot proceed because it needs to obtain a resource held by another process but it itself is holding a resource that the other process needs" [20].

Journal of Internet Services and Applications

The development of the tubules is dependent on this mesodermal capsule and cannot proceed without it.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"It's obvious the government cannot proceed without our consent," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it cannot proceed" to clearly and directly indicate that something is unable to continue due to specific circumstances or conditions. This phrase avoids ambiguity and provides a straightforward message.

Common error

While "it cannot proceed" is grammatically sound, avoid using it excessively in casual conversations. Opt for more relaxed alternatives like "it's not going to work" or "we can't go on with it" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it cannot proceed" functions as a declarative statement indicating that a particular action, process, or project is unable to continue. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable nature in written English. Examples from Ludwig show its use in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it cannot proceed" is a grammatically correct and usable expression in English, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It is employed to assert that something is unable to continue or move forward, typically due to an obstacle or impossibility. While versatile, it finds common usage in news, scientific, and formal business contexts. Related phrases offer similar meanings, with slight variations in emphasis. When using this phrase, ensure it aligns with the appropriate level of formality. Using more direct language ensures clear and concise communication. The analyzed sources suggest that "it cannot proceed" is a reliable way to convey that further progress is impossible.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it is unable to continue

Replaces "cannot proceed" with "is unable to continue", emphasizing a lack of ability.

it is not possible to go ahead

Substitutes "cannot proceed" with "is not possible to go ahead", focusing on the impossibility of advancement.

it is blocked from proceeding

Uses "blocked from proceeding" instead of "cannot proceed", highlighting an obstruction preventing progress.

it is halted

Replaces the phrase with "it is halted", indicating a complete stop.

it is at a standstill

Replaces the phrase with "it is at a standstill", highlighting a lack of movement.

it is stalled

Substitutes "cannot proceed" with "it is stalled", suggesting a temporary stop.

it is not viable to continue

Uses "not viable to continue" instead of "cannot proceed", emphasizing feasibility.

it's impossible to continue

Replaces "cannot proceed" with "impossible to continue", highlighting the lack of possibility.

it is precluded from advancing

Replaces the phrase with "precluded from advancing", indicating something is preventing its progress.

it is prevented from moving forward

Uses "prevented from moving forward" instead of "cannot proceed", emphasizing the obstruction of progress.

FAQs

How can I use "it cannot proceed" in a sentence?

You can use "it cannot proceed" to indicate that an action, plan, or process is unable to continue due to a specific reason or obstacle. For example, "Due to the lack of funding, the project "it cannot proceed" as planned."

What are some alternatives to "it cannot proceed"?

Alternatives include phrases like "it is unable to continue", "it is not possible to go ahead", or "it is blocked from proceeding", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "it cannot proceed" formal or informal?

"It cannot proceed" is generally considered a neutral to formal phrase, suitable for professional, academic, or news-related contexts. In informal settings, you might prefer alternatives like "it can't go on" or "it's not happening".

What's the difference between "it cannot proceed" and "it should not proceed"?

"It cannot proceed" indicates an inability to continue due to some obstacle or impossibility. In contrast, "it should not proceed" suggests that while it could potentially continue, doing so is inadvisable or inappropriate.