that lie outside

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "that lie outside" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to things that are beyond a certain limit or boundary, whether physical, conceptual, or metaphorical. Example: "We need to consider factors that lie outside our current understanding of the issue."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

WIPO is trying to broaden domain-name rules to cover problems that lie outside the realm of trademark law.

The New York Times - Magazine

An official speaking anonymously said that Mr Netanyahu recently ordered the review of Jerusalem neighbourhoods that lie outside Israel's West Bank separation barrier, Israeli state television reported.

Independent

It should be evident that the future of criticism depends on factors that lie outside criticism itself as a rationally evolving discipline.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Fifty basaltic candidates were selected with orbital elements that lie outside of the Vesta dynamical family.

Icarus

Suddenly, people are faced with challenges that lie outside their scope of knowledge.

Science Magazine

One of these puzzles is how to describe outliers, phenomena that lie outside of patterns of statistical regularity.

Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications

A highly reliable model will not produce reliable results for chemicals that lie outside the domain of applicability.

Chemistry Central Journal

Therefore the horizon scanning looks also at the external factors that lie outside a narrow definition of the health system.

European Journal of Futures Research

But it is still difficult to give a picture of the job opportunities that lie outside academia.

Science Magazine

This interpretation permits generalization of those results to cases that lie outside of the range of parameters considered in conventional mechanical design.

International Journal of Fatigue

This chapter provides a description of cell-based technologies and compares the development of cell-based technologies for applications that lie outside of tissue engineering.

WTEC Panel Report on Tissue Engineering Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "that lie outside" to precisely indicate elements or factors existing beyond a defined boundary, scope, or system. It is particularly effective when discussing abstract concepts or the limits of knowledge.

Common error

Avoid using "that lie outside" when referring to physical locations; simpler prepositions like 'outside' or 'beyond' are generally more appropriate and natural in those instances. For instance, instead of "the houses that lie outside the city", simply say "the houses outside the city".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that lie outside" functions as a relative clause, modifying a noun by specifying elements or factors beyond a certain boundary or scope. As Ludwig shows, it's frequently used to describe conditions or factors that are external to a defined system or concept.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

62%

News & Media

21%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "that lie outside" serves as a relative clause to precisely define what exists beyond a specified boundary. As evidenced by Ludwig, it commonly appears in scientific and news contexts to denote factors outside a system or scope. While grammatically sound and highly usable, consider simpler alternatives for less formal spatial descriptions. Ludwig's analysis confirms the phrase's correctness and frequent usage, reinforcing its value in formal and technical discourse.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that are beyond

This alternative replaces "lie outside" with a more general phrase indicating something is beyond a limit.

that exist outside

Focuses on the existence of something beyond a defined boundary, making it suitable for contexts emphasizing being.

that fall outside

Suggests that something doesn't fit within specified criteria.

that extend beyond

This highlights the idea of exceeding a certain limit or scope.

that transcend

Implies going beyond a physical or conceptual boundary.

that exceed

Conveys the idea of surpassing a certain limit or expectation.

that are external to

Emphasizes the separation from a defined area or system.

that are independent of

Highlights that something isn't connected or influenced by a specific element.

that are unrelated to

Indicates a lack of connection or association.

that are extraneous to

Focuses on the idea of something being extra or not essential to a specific context.

FAQs

How can I use "that lie outside" in a sentence?

The phrase "that lie outside" is used to describe something existing or being beyond a certain boundary, scope, or limit. For example, "We must consider factors "that lie outside" our immediate control."

What are some alternatives to "that lie outside"?

Depending on the context, you can replace "that lie outside" with phrases like "that are beyond", "that exist outside", or "that fall outside".

Is it always appropriate to use "that lie outside"?

While grammatically correct, "that lie outside" may sound overly formal in simple spatial contexts. In those cases, consider using alternatives such as 'outside' or 'beyond'.

What's the difference between "that lie outside" and "that are outside"?

"That lie outside" often implies a more abstract or conceptual boundary, while "that are outside" can be used for both physical and abstract contexts. Using "that lie outside" highlights the boundary itself; "that are outside" simply indicates a position.