were not able to conclude

USAGE SUMMARY

'were not able to conclude' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to an inability to come to a resolution or a lack of clarity. For example: "After much deliberation, we were not able to conclude which candidate was the best fit for the position."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Even after months and with resources sufficient to draft a 220-page report, Thornburgh and a team of lawyers were not "able to conclude with absolute certainty whether the [documents] are authentic or forgeries".

Forbes

Because of the rapid outgrowth of axons shortly after motor neuron birth and Mnx1-Cre expression, we were not able to conclude that ß-actin protein was completely eliminated from motor neurons prior to motor axons reaching their final targets.

Plosone

Our earlier study showed that the deficiency for DbpA alone precludes B. burgdorferi from colonizing the heart and that the lack of DbpB leads to a 57% decrease in frequency of heart colonization, but we were not able to conclude whether DbpA is more important than DbpB in the colonization of heart tissue [4].

Plosone

Our results were not able to conclude unequivocally whether organochlorines are involved in fetal loss.

Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source

However, the published studies were not able to conclude that these symptoms/signs are associated with SDD.

BioMed Research International

However, we were not able to conclude whether mutations that occurred in those polymorphic positions were indeed affecting the results of NS1 sensitivity as those mutations were singletons.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

"Because of time constraints, we weren't able to conclude a deal with Scott Strickland to tender him a contract," Mets General Manager Jim Duquette said in a statement.

The New York Times - Sports

Nevertheless, he said that after hearing evidence from such an eminent witness, he was not able to conclude that Berezovsky had taken his own life and must record an open verdict.

The Guardian

In 1989, France's stock market watchdog, then known as the Commission des Opérations de Bourse, told prosecutors that it was not able to conclude that Mr. Soros had committed any offense, as insider trading laws were then too imprecise for a conviction.

The New York Times

Empirical research was not able to conclude on the exact importance of credit constraints and the economic environment in general.

Latin American Economic Review

Note that I am not able to conclude whether she is right or wrong in her assertions.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "were not able to conclude", clearly state the reason for the inability to reach a conclusion. This adds credibility and provides context for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "were not able to conclude" as a way to introduce weak or unsupported claims. Ensure that there is a genuine reason for the lack of conclusion, rather than using it as a disclaimer for a poorly researched argument.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were not able to conclude" functions as a declarative statement expressing an inability to reach a definitive conclusion. Ludwig confirms its correct usage in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "were not able to conclude" effectively communicates an absence of a definitive resolution. Ludwig AI confirms that this is correct and usable in written English. While versatile, its use is notably concentrated in scientific literature and news reporting as shown by Ludwig examples. When using this phrase, be sure to provide the reason for the inability to reach a conclusion. Alternatives such as "could not determine" or "could not ascertain" offer subtle variations in meaning and can be used to fine-tune the message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

could not determine

Focuses on the inability to establish something definitively.

could not ascertain

Emphasizes the difficulty in finding something out for certain.

failed to decide

Highlights the lack of a decision being made.

unable to resolve

Stresses the failure to find a solution or answer.

did not establish

Focuses on the absence of proof or validation.

did not confirm

Highlights the lack of affirmation or verification.

could not deduce

Emphasizes the inability to infer from given information.

it remains unclear

Indicates that something is still not fully understood or explained.

we lack the data to conclude

Highlights the absence of the needed data.

the evidence was inconclusive

Emphasizes that the available evidence did not point to a clear conclusion.

FAQs

What does "were not able to conclude" mean?

The phrase "were not able to conclude" means that a definitive judgment or determination could not be reached due to a lack of sufficient evidence, information, or clarity.

How can I use "were not able to conclude" in a sentence?

You can use "were not able to conclude" to express the absence of a definitive resolution or finding. For instance, "After reviewing the data, the team "were not able to conclude" whether the treatment was effective."

What are some alternatives to "were not able to conclude"?

Alternatives include phrases like "could not determine", "could not ascertain", or "failed to decide", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "were not able to conclude" or "did not conclude"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "were not able to conclude" often implies a reason or limitation preventing a conclusion, while "did not conclude" simply states that a conclusion wasn't reached, without specifying why.