unable to discern

USAGE SUMMARY

"unable to discern" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when describing someone's inability to recognize, differentiate, or tell something apart. For example, "I was unable to discern the difference between the two paintings, so I had to consult an art expert."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I was unable to discern any remorse in your actions.

The Guardian

The system is unable to discern which street the driver is actually on.

The New York Times - Tech

For those reasons, investors may be unable to discern the policies of their funds easily.

The New York Times

Metaphorical tone deafness is when people are unable to discern what is of value in something.

The Guardian - Opinion

This narrative style left me unable to discern whose story "Shot-Blue" is supposed to be.

The New York Times - Books

The overall network, unable to discern truth amid competing claims, could fracture into rival fiefdoms.

The Washington Post

Is she unable to discern between pictures of herself from before and taken now?

The Guardian - Film

We were unable to discern evidence of diel vertical migratory by the Alexandrium population in either of the two experiments.

Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography

In most research settings, a researcher, like market participants, is unable to discern whether information is being withheld.

Harvard University

NMR velocity imaging was unable to discern differences in the flow field between shear-thickening wormlike micelle solution and water due to spatial resolution limitations.

Chemical Engineering Science

We tried for hours to debug the circuit boards, with help from the TA's, but were unable to discern a reason for the sudden failure.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "unable to discern" when you want to express a genuine lack of ability to distinguish or understand something, rather than a deliberate choice to ignore it.

Common error

Avoid using "unable to discern" in situations where a simpler phrase like "can't see" or "can't tell" would suffice. Overusing sophisticated language can make your writing sound pretentious.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unable to discern" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun or pronoun, typically indicating a lack of ability to perceive or understand something clearly. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound and widely accepted.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "unable to discern" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase that conveys a lack of ability to perceive or understand something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely accepted and appears often in news, science, and academic writing. While versatile, it's most appropriate for contexts where precise and slightly formal language is desired. Be mindful not to overuse it in simple situations where more straightforward expressions would be sufficient. Consider alternatives like "cannot distinguish" or "fail to recognize" to tailor your language to the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not able to differentiate

Simple substitution of "unable" with "not able", retaining the core meaning of being unable to tell the difference.

cannot distinguish

Uses "cannot" instead of "unable" and "distinguish" instead of "discern", emphasizing the inability to differentiate.

incapable of perceiving

Replaces "unable" with "incapable" and "discern" with "perceiving", focusing on the lack of perceptual ability.

fail to recognize

Replaces "unable to discern" with "fail to recognize", highlighting a failure in identification.

lack the capacity to differentiate

Expresses the absence of the ability to differentiate using more formal language.

cannot grasp

Emphasizes the inability to understand or comprehend something.

blind to

Uses a metaphorical expression to indicate a lack of awareness or understanding.

miss the point

Shifts the focus to failing to understand the essential aspect of something.

imperceptible to

Indicates that something is not noticeable or discernible.

beyond comprehension

Highlights that something is impossible to understand.

FAQs

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

You can use "unable to discern" to indicate a lack of ability to distinguish or understand something, such as "The analyst was unable to discern any pattern in the data."

What's the difference between "unable to discern" and "unable to distinguish"?

"Unable to discern" and "unable to distinguish" are very similar. "Discern" often implies a more subtle or complex act of perception than "distinguish", but they are often interchangeable.

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

You can use alternatives like "cannot distinguish", "fail to recognize", or "incapable of perceiving" depending on the context.

Is it more formal to say "unable to discern" or "cannot understand"?

"Unable to discern" is generally more formal than "cannot understand". The choice depends on the desired tone and audience.