unable to replicate

USAGE SUMMARY

"unable to replicate" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something was not able to be repeated or copied. For example: “After several attempts, the scientists were unable to replicate the experiment's original results.”.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The DNA replication machinery is unable to replicate telomeres completely.

Chromosoma

The publisher's QA staff have allegedly been unable to replicate the errors.

The Guardian - Tech

Joanna Rowsell was unable to replicate her winning performance in the velodrome and finished 13th.

The Guardian - Sport

He then amasses anatomy books, which he studies, but is unable to replicate, and destroys.

The New Yorker

Product designers at Levi's probably flog themselves over being unable to replicate the process.

The New York Times

It is a margin she was unable to replicate across this unpredictable state.

Independent

Smeltz struggled with a hip injury throughout the last season and was unable to replicate his previously lethal form.

The Guardian - Sport

One recent examination of fifty-three medical studies found that further research was unable to replicate forty-seven of them.

The New Yorker

Initially, Syngenta said it had been unable to replicate the results of Dr. Hayes's work in company-sponsored studies.

The New York Times

2002 Sterling Stamos, a partnership between Peter Stamos and Sterling Equities, is unable to replicate Madoff's returns.

The New York Times

When the tissue is badly damaged, cells could be unable to replicate themselves in animal experiments.

Journal of Experimental Orthopaedics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing scientific findings, use "unable to replicate" to clearly indicate that results could not be reproduced in subsequent experiments. This emphasizes the importance of reproducibility in research.

Common error

While "unable to replicate" is valid in many scenarios, avoid using it in very simple contexts where alternatives like "could not copy" or "could not repeat" would be more appropriate. Overusing sophisticated phrasing can sometimes make your writing sound unnatural.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unable to replicate" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying an implied subject, describing the subject's inability to reproduce or duplicate something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "unable to replicate" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, primarily in scientific and news-related contexts. It indicates the failure to reproduce or duplicate something. While highly suitable for formal and technical writing, remember to use it judiciously in simpler contexts where less sophisticated alternatives might be more appropriate. Common synonyms include "failed to reproduce" and "could not duplicate". When writing, focus on clarity and precision, especially in scientific reporting, where reproducibility is paramount. The high frequency of use and consistent grammatical structure across various sources reinforce its reliability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

failed to reproduce

Focuses specifically on the failure to reproduce results or an outcome.

could not duplicate

Highlights the impossibility of creating an exact copy or instance.

incapable of reproducing

Emphasizes a lack of capability to recreate something.

not able to reproduce

A more direct and simple way of stating the inability to reproduce.

failed to emulate

Implies an unsuccessful attempt to match or imitate something.

could not recreate

Highlights the inability to bring something back into existence or create it again.

proven irreproducible

Highlights the established state of being impossible to reproduce, often in scientific context.

found no repetition

Suggests that no matching results were observed to confirm an initial finding.

not possible to duplicate

Highlights the impossibility of duplicating the event or object.

unsuccessful in mirroring

Emphasizes an attempt to reflect or imitate that was not successful.

FAQs

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

You can use "unable to replicate" to describe situations where something cannot be reproduced or duplicated. For instance, "The researchers were "unable to replicate" the initial experimental results."

What are some alternatives to "unable to replicate"?

Some alternatives include "failed to reproduce", "could not duplicate", or "incapable of reproducing", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "unable to replicate" or "could not replicate"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct and convey the same meaning. "Unable to replicate" is slightly more formal, while "could not replicate" is more common in everyday language. The choice depends on the desired tone.

In what contexts is "unable to replicate" most commonly used?

"Unable to replicate" is frequently used in scientific, technical, and formal contexts to describe the failure to reproduce experimental results, processes, or outcomes. It is commonly found in scientific literature and technical reports.