unable to confirm

USAGE SUMMARY

'unable to confirm' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are not certain of the accuracy of something and cannot verify it. For example: "I am unable to confirm if the meeting is still scheduled for 3PM."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Reuters was unable to confirm the reports.

The New York Times

Friends are unable to confirm this.

The Guardian

We are unable to confirm that at the moment.

The Guardian

The Guardian has been unable to confirm that.

The Guardian

A Decc spokeswoman was unable to confirm that figure.

The Guardian

The NCT, however, was unable to confirm the exact number.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The police were unable to confirm the relationship last night.

The New York Times

was unable to confirm whether the character would return.

The Guardian - Film

Again, we are unable to confirm that at this point.

The Guardian

I was unable to confirm this reservoir story.

The New Yorker

US officials were unable to confirm the report.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "unable to confirm" when you actually mean "disprove". Lack of confirmation doesn't necessarily mean something is false, just that it can't be verified at the moment.

Common error

Avoid using "unable to confirm" as a default response. Sometimes, a more proactive approach—like stating what steps are being taken to verify—is more helpful and informative.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unable to confirm" functions as a qualifier, indicating that the speaker or source lacks the capacity to verify a particular statement or piece of information. As Ludwig AI points out, this phrase is grammatically correct and can be used in numerous contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "unable to confirm" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to express the lack of ability to verify information. Ludwig AI shows it is used in a wide range of contexts, primarily in news, media, and academic writing. When using this phrase, it's essential to provide context for the lack of confirmation and avoid overusing it as a default response. Alternative phrases like "cannot verify" or "could not ascertain" can also be used to convey a similar meaning, as the related phrases show.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was unable to verify

Past tense of "unable to confirm", specifying the time when the confirmation could not be made.

cannot verify

Emphasizes the impossibility of verifying information due to lack of evidence or resources.

did not validate

Past tense of "have not validated", indicating the validation did not happen.

could not ascertain

Highlights the failure to determine something definitively, often due to complexity or insufficient data.

cannot corroborate

Indicates the inability to support a statement or claim with additional evidence.

failed to substantiate

Stresses the lack of success in providing evidence or proof for a claim or statement.

have not validated

Focuses on the absence of formal validation or approval, suggesting a need for further investigation.

cannot authenticate

Emphasizes the impossibility of proving the genuineness or validity of something.

it is not possible to confirm

Highlights the impossibility of confirming something, due to circumstances that are currently unavailable or beyond control.

not in a position to confirm

Indicates that someone lacks the authority, information, or resources to confirm something.

FAQs

How can I use "unable to confirm" in a sentence?

You can use "unable to confirm" when you want to express that you lack the necessary information or evidence to verify a particular fact or statement. For instance, "The police were "unable to confirm" the suspect's alibi due to conflicting witness statements".

What's the difference between "unable to confirm" and "unable to deny"?

"Unable to confirm" suggests a lack of evidence to support a claim, while "unable to deny" suggests a lack of evidence to refute it. They are not interchangeable; use the one that accurately reflects the available information.

What can I say instead of "unable to confirm"?

You can use alternatives like "cannot verify", "could not ascertain", or "cannot corroborate" depending on the context.

Is it more appropriate to say "unable to confirm" or "declined to comment"?

"Unable to confirm" indicates an actual inability to verify information, whereas "declined to comment" suggests a choice not to provide information, possibly for strategic or legal reasons. Choose the phrase that best represents the situation.