partly impossible

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "partly impossible" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or task that is not entirely feasible or achievable, indicating that some aspects may be possible while others are not. Example: "The project seemed partly impossible due to the limited resources and tight deadlines."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

It is impractical and partly impossible to estimate the uncertainty for each event individually.

Earth, Planets and Space

In addition, the agglomerated whiskers were partly impossible to distinguish even by the naked eye (Fig. 5c), and as a consequence, a lot of the particles in the TEM images could not be used in the image analysis.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Further industrial action was likely but a general strike looked "almost impossible" partly due to legislation, said the head of Employment Rights at the TUC.

BBC

For me, that's impossible – partly because I live in New Orleans, where we have more than 1,200 restaurants, according to the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Huffington Post

Currently, a complete re-arrangement for its classification remains impossible partly because molecular information is lacking for too many taxa.

Plosone

This is partly because pain is impossible to measure and each individual describes it differently.

The Guardian

JA Bayona, who went on to make the $28m The Impossible (again partly under Warner stewardship), would presumably agree.

The Guardian - Film

His daughter Barbara Winton puzzles over that question in her recent biography of her father, called If It's Not Impossible... Partly, he says, it was because of his family connections.

The Guardian

Independent experts warn that rumours and deliberate misinformation about the regime are rife, partly because it is impossible to verify or disprove most stories about the tightly controlled country's elite.

The Guardian

But if the arguments seem predictable, they are nonetheless important, partly because it is impossible to formulate a general rule of cinematic accuracy, and partly because we are inundated with stories claiming to be true and theories proclaiming that truth does not exist.

The New York Times

Yet he bounced back from it, redeemed: partly because it was almost impossible to imagine the District without his charisma, shamelessness and panache.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "partly impossible" to accurately convey that some aspects of a task or situation are not achievable, while others might be feasible. This nuanced approach adds precision to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "partly impossible" when a situation is merely difficult or challenging. This phrase is most effective when there's a clear, defined barrier making a portion of the task truly unattainable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "partly impossible" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate that something is not entirely feasible or achievable. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is appropriate to use in written English and conveys a nuanced meaning about partial impossibility. The phrase often describes tasks, projects, or situations.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "partly impossible" is a grammatically correct adjective phrase used to describe situations or tasks that are not entirely achievable. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s an appropriate phrase to describe situations where some aspects are feasible and others aren’t. While "partly impossible" is relatively rare in usage, it appears in both news media and scientific contexts. When using this phrase, ensure it accurately reflects the presence of defined barriers, and consider synonyms like "somewhat unachievable" or "not entirely feasible" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat unachievable

Emphasizes the lack of complete achievability, using a different adjective.

partially unattainable

Replaces "impossible" with "unattainable", suggesting something is not fully within reach.

not entirely feasible

Focuses on feasibility rather than possibility, implying practical difficulties.

partly impractical

Highlights the impractical aspects, suggesting some elements are not realistic or sensible.

in some respects unfeasible

More formal and emphasizes the aspects that are not feasible.

not wholly viable

Uses "viable" to suggest that not all aspects are capable of working or succeeding.

partially insurmountable

Indicates that some obstacles are too great to overcome.

to some degree undoable

Less formal, replacing "impossible" with the more colloquial "undoable."

not fully realizable

Emphasizes that some parts cannot be brought into being or made real.

in part beyond reach

Suggests that some elements are not within the realm of possibility or capability.

FAQs

How can I use "partly impossible" in a sentence?

You can use "partly impossible" to describe situations where some aspects are not achievable. For example: "The project seemed "partly impossible" due to the limited resources".

What are some alternatives to "partly impossible"?

Alternatives include "somewhat unachievable", "partially unattainable", or "not entirely feasible", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "partly impossible", or should I use a different phrase?

Yes, "partly impossible" is a correct and usable phrase. It accurately conveys that something is not entirely achievable. However, you could also use synonyms like "somewhat unachievable" or "partially impractical".

What's the difference between "partly impossible" and "difficult"?

"Partly impossible" suggests that some aspects are truly unachievable, while "difficult" implies that something requires significant effort but is still attainable. Something that is "partly impossible" has components that cannot be done, regardless of effort.