unless it is possible

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unless it is possible" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to introduce a condition that must be met for something to occur or be true. Example: "We will proceed with the project unless it is possible to find a more efficient solution."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

When the distance between the coil changes, however, the efficiency drops, unless it is possible to adjust the frequency over which the power is transferred.

MIT Technology Review

Whereas lakes and wetlands are very sensitive to changes in climate, high-resolution data in these archives are lost unless it is possible to differentiate these deposits from other "floodplain" deposits.

Sedimentary Geology

Under the Human Rights Act, courts in the UK need only "take into account" Strasbourg rulings unless it is possible to interpret them in a way that is compatible with human rights.

The Guardian

That must be right: UK courts need only "take into account" Strasbourg decisions unless it is possible to interpret a statute in a way that is compatible with human rights – which is not the case here.

The Guardian

Unless it is possible to determine in advance with some degree of accuracy the percentage of union funds that will be used during an upcoming year for chargeable purposes and the SEIU argues that this is not possible there is at least a risk that, at the end of the year, unconsenting nonmembers will have paid either too much or too little.

Cornell University

To begin, unless it is possible for some agent to bring about a given state of affairs, an omnipotent agent ought not to be required to be able to bring about that state of affairs.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

In the Army, he had discovered, that kind of action depended entirely on the discretion of one's superior — unless it was possible to figure out some way of bypassing him.

The New Yorker

And unless it's possible to consolidate those debts at a substantially lower rate, our findings would argue against pooling debts into a single larger one as this can actually be demotivating and could slow progress in repayment.

Harvard Business Review

Mr Day said he would do a "store-by-store profitability assessment" with the aim of closing underperforming shops unless it was possible to implement "reduced rents, staff reductions or other cost saving measures".

BBC

It seems highly unlikely, even if HRX were more widely understood, that matters of social policy would be altered substantially from current practice unless it were possible to separate the influence on risk ratios of HRX from the influence of discrimination or bias.

Journal of Statistical Distributions and Applications

Unless it's possible (or even desirable) for students to use only keyboards or touch screens at all times, proper handwriting must remain a valued skill.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "unless it is possible", ensure the condition that makes something possible is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For example, "The project will proceed, unless it is possible to secure additional funding."

Common error

Avoid using "unless it is possible" when a more direct conditional clause would provide clearer meaning. For instance, instead of "We will delay the launch, unless it is possible to complete testing by Friday", consider "We will delay the launch if we cannot complete testing by Friday".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unless it is possible" functions as a conditional conjunction, introducing a condition that must be met to prevent a certain outcome. It sets up an exception or limitation, as illustrated by Ludwig where the phrase is used to provide circumstances that change the course of action.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "unless it is possible" functions as a conditional conjunction that introduces an exception or prerequisite. According to Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, with a neutral to formal register. It's commonly used in science, news, and academic writing. When using this phrase, clarity is key; ensure the conditional aspect is well-defined to avoid ambiguity. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is usable in written English for introducing conditions. Consider more concise alternatives like "if it can be done" or "except when feasible" for varied sentence structure.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

except if it's feasible

Replaces "possible" with "feasible", indicating practicality or suitability; more concise.

unless it's achievable

Substitutes "possible" with "achievable", highlighting the attainability of a goal or outcome.

if it can be done

Simplified phrasing focusing on the ability to perform an action.

except when feasible

More concise version using the adjective "feasible", implies practicality

barring its feasibility

Formal phrasing indicating an exception based on practicality

absent the possibility

Formal and somewhat indirect way to state a condition.

save where practicable

Emphasizes the practical aspect, suitable for formal contexts.

if it's not viable

Focuses on viability, meaning capable of working successfully.

without the potential for

Expresses a lack of opportunity or capacity.

excluding the chance of

Focuses on excluding a specific opportunity.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "unless it is possible" for conciseness?

You can use alternatives like "if it can be done", "except if it's feasible", or "except when feasible depending on the context.

Is there a more formal way to say "unless it is possible"?

Yes, you could use phrases such as "barring its feasibility" or "absent the possibility" in more formal writing.

What's the difference between "unless it is possible" and "if it is possible"?

"Unless it is possible" introduces an exception to a condition, whereas "if it is possible" states a condition that must be met. For example, "We will proceed unless it is possible to find a better solution" versus "We will proceed if it is possible to find a good solution".

When is it appropriate to use "unless it is possible" in a sentence?

Use "unless it is possible" when you want to specify a situation that would prevent a certain outcome from occurring. For instance, "The surgery will be performed, "unless surgical resection is possible"".