usually can

USAGE SUMMARY

"usually can" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you need to describe something that happens regularly or is expected to happen. For example: "The students usually can complete the assignment in one hour."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

It usually can be.

The Guardian

I usually can oblige.

The New York Times

"Where we usually can walk, we can't anymore".

The New York Times

If you look hard enough you usually can.

The Guardian - Music

Sanofi can afford to defend itself – large corporations usually can.

The Guardian

Even if the experts cannot predict, they usually can explain.

The New York Times

Clarity refers to a stone's flaws, or inclusions, which usually can be seen under magnification.

The New York Times

If your nasal discharge is yellow or greenish, he said, you usually can wait it out.

The New York Times - Health

They're not torn and conflicted and they usually can gain weight".

The New York Times - Health

Although the patient may experience some fatigue, he usually can maintain most normal activities, including work.

The New York Times

And they often collect Internet Protocol addresses, which usually can be easily traced to individual users.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "usually can" to indicate a typical or expected capability or possibility. It's suitable when describing something that generally happens but isn't guaranteed.

Common error

Avoid using "usually can" when absolute certainty is required. If something is always true, opt for stronger phrasing like "will" or "always can".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "usually can" functions as an adverbial modifier followed by an auxiliary verb. It expresses a likelihood or general ability. As shown in the Ludwig examples, it's frequently used to describe what is generally possible or expected.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "usually can" is a versatile expression indicating a common ability or possibility, as confirmed by Ludwig. It's grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts, including News & Media and Science. While "usually can" is generally acceptable, remember to consider the level of certainty required for your specific context. For more formal settings, alternatives like "typically able to" may be preferred. Avoid overstating certainty by using "usually can" when absolute certainty is needed; in those cases, stronger phrasing is more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

typically able to

Replaces "usually" with "typically" and "can" with "able to", emphasizing a common capability.

generally capable of

Substitutes "usually" with "generally" and "can" with "capable of", highlighting overall ability.

ordinarily able to

Replaces "usually" with "ordinarily" and "can" with "able to", suggesting a normal condition of capability.

normally able to

Substitutes "usually" with "normally" and "can" with "able to", indicating a standard state of ability.

commonly able to

Replaces "usually" with "commonly" and "can" with "able to", emphasizing widespread capability.

frequently able to

Replaces "usually" with "frequently" and "can" with "able to", highlighting how often something can happen.

most often able to

Emphasizes the frequency with which something is possible.

as a rule can

Uses the idiom "as a rule" instead of "usually", indicating a general principle.

in general can

Uses "in general" to convey a common occurrence or possibility.

more often than not can

Uses a longer phrase to express that something is likely or frequently possible.

FAQs

How can I use "usually can" in a sentence?

You can use "usually can" to express that something is generally possible or happens under normal circumstances. For instance, "Students "usually can complete" the assignment within an hour."

What are some alternatives to "usually can"?

Alternatives include "typically able to", "generally capable of", or "ordinarily able to" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "usually can" formal or informal?

"Usually can" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, for more formal writing, consider alternatives like "typically able to" for added precision.

What's the difference between "usually can" and "always can"?

"Usually can" indicates something happens under normal or frequent conditions, whereas "always can" implies a constant and unchanging ability or possibility. The distinction is the degree of certainty.