unable to retrieve

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unable to retrieve" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to an unsuccessful attempt to obtain something. For example: Despite my best efforts, I was unable to retrieve the missing data.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We were unable to retrieve data through case record retrieval on the remaining 27% of cases.

BMC Public Health

Direct data retrieval can retain native data structure, but is unable to retrieve 'misplaced' data.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Officials also were unable to retrieve the camera and had to leave it 50 feet from the surface, he said.

The New York Times

The Turks attempted three times (1822 24) to invade the Peloponnese but were unable to retrieve the area.

Britannica

If you no longer want a job or will be unable to retrieve it, please remove it from the queue.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

They are unable to retrieve their passports to flee, despite such widespread  practices being made illegal, and are routinely underpaid.

Independent

A spokeswoman for easyJet said: "We apologise if [the reader] felt he was unable to retrieve his medication.

Independent

He's at once wholly aware that he has a different personality and utterly unable to retrieve the old one.

The New York Times

Due to the language barrier, non-English users are unable to retrieve the most updated medical information from the U.S. authoritative medical websites, such as PubMed and MedlinePlus.

Decision Support Systems

MGM stumped up for clothes and medicines for anyone temporarily unable to retrieve their belongings – but some are pushing their luck.

The Guardian - Business

Pictures from the scene showed rows of motorcycles whose owners, for one reason or another, had been unable to retrieve them from the parking lot.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "unable to retrieve", clearly state what could not be retrieved and, if possible, the reason for the inability. This provides context and clarity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using the passive voice excessively when "unable to retrieve". Instead of saying "The data was unable to be retrieved", opt for the active voice: "We were unable to retrieve the data".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unable to retrieve" functions as an adjective phrase, describing the state of being incapable of obtaining or recovering something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is perfectly acceptable for use in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

39%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Academia

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "unable to retrieve" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote the failure or impossibility of obtaining something. As Ludwig AI states, this phrase is correct and usable in written English. Predominantly found in scientific and news contexts, its neutral to formal tone makes it suitable for various professional and academic settings. When using "unable to retrieve", clarify what could not be retrieved and the reason behind it to ensure clarity. Remember to avoid overusing passive voice to improve sentence structure.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

failed to obtain

Focuses on the lack of success in getting something.

could not recover

Emphasizes the impossibility of getting something back.

was not able to access

Highlights the lack of access to something.

couldn't get back

An informal way to express the inability to recover something.

were unsuccessful in finding

Highlights the lack of success in locating something.

did not manage to get

Focuses on the failure to achieve acquiring something.

were prevented from accessing

Indicates that something obstructed the access.

had no access to

Highlights the complete lack of availability.

were blocked from retrieving

Emphasizes an external force stopping the retrieval.

missed out on getting

Indicates a lost opportunity to obtain something.

FAQs

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

You can use "unable to retrieve" to indicate an unsuccessful attempt to obtain something, such as "We were unable to retrieve the information due to a system error" or "The search team was unable to retrieve the missing artifact".

What are some alternatives to saying "unable to retrieve"?

Alternatives include "failed to obtain", "could not recover", or "was not able to access" depending on the specific context.

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

"Unable to retrieve" and "could not retrieve" are often interchangeable. "Unable to retrieve" can sound slightly more formal, while "could not retrieve" is more common in everyday language.

What's the difference between "unable to retrieve" and "failed to retrieve"?

"Unable to retrieve" suggests a lack of capacity or opportunity to get something, while "failed to retrieve" implies an attempt was made, but it was unsuccessful. The difference is subtle and context-dependent.