makes it impossible to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "makes it impossible to" is grammatically correct and commonly used in written English.
It is usually used to describe something that prevents or hinders someone from doing something. For example: - The heavy snowfall makes it impossible to drive on the roads. - His stubbornness makes it impossible to reason with him. - The strict dress code makes it impossible to wear casual clothes to work. In these examples, "makes it impossible to" highlights the difficulty or impossibility of a particular action. It can also be used in more formal or technical writing, such as: - The lack of funding makes it impossible to complete the project on time. - The complexity of the situation makes it impossible to determine the exact cause of the problem. In conclusion, "makes it impossible to" is a useful phrase in written English that can convey a sense of difficulty or impossibility in various situations.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

This makes it impossible to open.

The New York Times - Arts

This makes it impossible to write.

The New York Times

The huge volume makes it impossible to serve legitimate users.

The New York Times

"It makes it impossible to do effective oversight".

The New York Times

It makes it impossible to keep track of our conversation.

The New Yorker

Our board's exhausted, and it makes it impossible to plan".

The New York Times

But it makes it impossible to overlook his.

The Guardian - Opinion

Makes it impossible to hit winners which results in messed up winners/errors ratio".

The New York Times - Sports

That makes it impossible to use land as collateral for traditional bank loans.

The Economist

This, in turn, makes it impossible to analyze and correct mistakes.

The New Yorker

Change makes it impossible to become bored.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "makes it impossible to", ensure that the subject clearly identifies the cause of the impossibility. For instance, instead of "Regulations make it impossible to proceed", specify "The new regulations make it impossible to proceed without additional permits".

Common error

Avoid using "makes it impossible to" when the situation merely presents a significant challenge or difficulty. Overusing strong language can weaken your argument. Consider using "makes it very difficult to" or "severely hinders" when complete impossibility is not accurate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "makes it impossible to" functions as a causative expression, indicating that a specific factor or situation completely prevents a particular action or outcome from occurring. This is supported by Ludwig AI's analysis and numerous examples showing its role in denoting absolute constraints.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

39%

News & Media

36%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "makes it impossible to" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression in English, functioning as a causative phrase to indicate that something completely prevents a particular action or outcome. As Ludwig AI confirms, its primary purpose is to convey a sense of absolute restriction. While found in various sources, it's particularly prevalent in science and news media. Related phrases include "renders it unachievable to" and "precludes the possibility of". A key writing tip is to ensure the cause of impossibility is clearly identified, while avoiding overstatement when a situation only presents difficulty. Using stronger language makes it impactful. The data shows that this is a very common phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

renders it unachievable to

Replaces "makes" with "renders" and "impossible" with "unachievable", emphasizing the effect of something causing impossibility.

precludes the possibility of

Focuses on the preclusion of possibility rather than direct causation of impossibility.

rules out any chance of

Highlights the elimination of any opportunity for something to occur.

effectively prevents

Simplifies the phrase, focusing on the prevention aspect.

obviates the opportunity for

Uses more formal language, suggesting something removes the need or chance.

removes all feasibility for

Emphasizes the removal of feasibility, indicating the impossibility stems from practicality.

negates the potential for

Highlights the negation of any potential, suggesting impossibility by removing possibility.

establishes a barrier to

Focuses on creating a barrier, suggesting impossibility is due to obstruction.

presents an insurmountable obstacle to

Emphasizes the obstacle as being too large to overcome.

precludes any likelihood of

Stresses the removal of likelihood, making something improbable to the point of impossibility.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "makes it impossible to" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider alternatives such as "precludes the possibility of", "renders it unachievable to", or "obviates the opportunity for".

What are some less emphatic alternatives to "makes it impossible to"?

If you want to express a strong difficulty without stating complete impossibility, try phrases like "severely hinders", "makes it very difficult to", or "presents a significant challenge to".

Is there a subtle difference between "makes it difficult to" and "makes it impossible to"?

"Makes it difficult to" indicates a high level of challenge, but still implies that success is attainable with effort. "Makes it impossible to" suggests that success is unattainable regardless of effort.

In what contexts is it most appropriate to use "makes it impossible to"?

Use "makes it impossible to" when referring to absolute barriers or restrictions, especially in situations where overcoming the obstacle is genuinely not feasible. Overusing it can weaken its impact; be sure the context warrants such strong language.