unable to be characterized

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unable to be characterized" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing something that cannot be easily defined or categorized. Example: "The phenomenon was so unique that it was unable to be characterized by any existing theories."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

DNA sequences lacking a stop codon are discarded, since the entire sequence is unable to be characterized.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The majority of enhancing renal masses are unable to be effectively characterized as benign or malignant using standard cross-sectional imaging modalities including multi-phase computed tomography (CT) [1] and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) [2].

EJNMMI Research

At a conference on African literature held in Uganda in 1962, attended by emerging figures such as the Nigerian poet and playwright Wole Soyinka and the Kenyan novelist James Ngugi, the writers tried and failed to define "African literature," unable to decide whether it should be characterized by the nationalities of the writers or by its subject matter.

The New Yorker

Only its orthologue in the ascomycete Hypocrea jecorina, Envoy – which has a high similarity to VIVID but is unable to replace it – has recently been characterized [ 22].

BMC Genomics

Retinas of mice heterozygous for a myeloid-specific Notch1 mutation were characterized by long sprouts unable to anastomose and by lack of macrophages at the edge of vascular branch points [ 36].

BioMed Research International

Shunned by the other members of the group, Cohn is characterized as "different," unable or unwilling to understand and participate in the fiesta.

Wikipedia

In its current form, however, individual VBM may be unable to detect lesions characterized by strong signal intensity abnormalities.

NeuroImage

However, the biggest limitation of approaches relying on the direct neighbors of the protein under consideration is that they are unable to characterize proteins whose direct interacting neighbors are all uncharacterized, thus impacting negatively on annotation coverage.

Plosone

It shows that even if we restrict ourselves to infinite but countable probabilistic domains, if the language is expressive enough, CA cannot be added as a constraint on probabilistic models on pain of being unable to characterize the rational relation we are interested in.

SEP

Due to these limitations the micro resonator approaches are unable to completely characterize the effects of spatial and temporal interactions between cells on growth and are thus unsuitable for studying motility and morphogenesis.

Biomedical Optics Express

The IRT alone is unable to completely characterize a rock mass; a meaningful interpretation of the results requires a geological on-contact survey or other on-contact or contactless techniques.

Computers & Geosciences

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "unable to be characterized", ensure the context clearly explains why the subject cannot be characterized. Provide specific reasons or limitations to enhance clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "unable to be characterized" when the subject is simply complex or requires further study. Reserve this phrase for situations where fundamental limitations prevent characterization.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unable to be characterized" functions as a descriptive term, typically acting as a predicate adjective. It indicates a state where something cannot be defined or described within existing frameworks. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

82%

News & Media

12%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "unable to be characterized" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression, especially within scientific and formal contexts. It serves to describe situations where something defies easy definition or categorization. Ludwig AI underscores that its function is to communicate the limitations in our understanding of a subject, using it to denote the absence of properties that would allow for a description. While alternatives like "impossible to characterize" or "difficult to define" offer similar meanings, the best practice involves providing context on why characterization is impossible, ensuring precise and informative communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

impossible to characterize

Replaces "unable" with "impossible", emphasizing the absolute lack of possibility.

difficult to define

Focuses on the difficulty of definition rather than the inability to characterize.

not easily characterized

Uses a more moderate tone, suggesting characterization is possible but not simple.

defies characterization

Emphasizes that something resists attempts to be characterized.

cannot be classified

Highlights the inability to categorize something into existing systems.

eludes definition

Suggests that something escapes attempts to define it clearly.

resists categorization

Similar to defies characterization, highlighting resistance to being placed into categories.

not amenable to characterization

Indicates that something does not lend itself well to being characterized.

beyond characterization

Suggests that something exceeds the limits of what can be characterized.

lacks defining features

Highlights that the subject is hard to pin down for not having characteristics to identify.

FAQs

How can I use "unable to be characterized" in a sentence?

You can use "unable to be characterized" to describe something that resists definition or categorization. For example: "The phenomenon was so unique that it was unable to be characterized by any existing theories."

What are some alternatives to "unable to be characterized"?

Alternatives include "impossible to characterize", "difficult to define", or "not easily characterized" depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "unable to be characterized"?

Use "unable to be characterized" when there are fundamental limitations preventing a subject from being defined or described accurately, not simply when it's complex or requires further research.

Is "unable to be characterized" formal or informal?

"Unable to be characterized" is generally considered formal and suitable for academic, scientific, or professional writing. More informal contexts may benefit from simpler alternatives like "hard to define".