were not able to monitor

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were not able to monitor" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a situation where someone or a group was unable to observe or track something effectively. Example: "Due to technical difficulties, we were not able to monitor the system's performance during the outage."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

For the first time, landlords were not able to monitor the electoral behaviour of their tenants.

The Guardian - Opinion

Some neighbouring countries were not able to monitor the manoeuvres (Lithuania, with a handful of observers in Belarus, was an exception).

The Economist

The researchers point out that although they found a link with prescriptions they were not able to monitor precisely how much of the drug a person actually took.

BBC

For practical reasons, farmers were not able to monitor dehydration, acidosis and electrolyte imbalance in calves.

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

Although this effect was very evident on the transcript level we were not able to monitor it on the proteome level.

BMC Genomics

Because of the scope of the study, we were not able to monitor falls and other adverse events continuously from the baseline to the follow-up assessment.

Clinical interventions in aging

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Because schools are not able to monitor families' movements in and out of poverty, white children who were previously poor often continue to receive lunch subsidies.

The New York Times

Flash floods and debris flows develop at space and time scales that conventional observation systems for rainfall, streamflow and sediment discharge are not able to monitor.

Journal of Hydrology

The University of Abertay Dundee, which appears in a list of 10 institutions that "did not sit the exam" because they failed to submit figures to the Higher Education Funding Council on recycling, emissions or water consumption, says that it is not able to monitor all its work on sustainability.

Independent

"If you are not able to monitor this more closely, we unfortunately will not be able to run with TechCrunch in the future".

TechCrunch

However, the technology transfer units at the universities are not able to monitor all the current research and development projects; thus, there are commercializable results which remain hidden from technology transfer offices.

Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider alternatives like "could not monitor" for conciseness, but ensure it doesn't alter the intended meaning.

Common error

Avoid using "were not able to monitor" when a partial or incomplete monitoring was actually performed. Instead, use a phrase like "were not able to fully monitor" to indicate the limitations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were not able to monitor" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun, indicating a lack of capacity or opportunity to observe or supervise. As shown in Ludwig AI, it describes a situation where observation or tracking was intended but not feasible.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

54%

News & Media

41%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "were not able to monitor" is a grammatically sound and neutrally-toned expression denoting the inability to observe, track, or supervise something. Ludwig AI indicates it is most commonly found in scientific and news contexts. When employing this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying the reason for the inability. Consider using synonyms such as "could not monitor" or "were unable to track" for conciseness, or "were incapable of monitoring" for emphasis. Avoid misusing the phrase when only partial monitoring was achieved. Overall, "were not able to monitor" is a useful phrase for clearly communicating limitations in observational capabilities.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

could not monitor

Replaces "were not able" with the more concise "could not", maintaining the same meaning.

were incapable of monitoring

Emphasizes a lack of capacity or ability to monitor.

were unable to track

Substitutes "monitor" with "track", focusing on following or tracing something.

were not in a position to observe

Highlights the lack of a suitable position or opportunity to observe.

lacked the capacity to oversee

Replaces "monitor" with "oversee", implying a broader supervisory role.

did not have the means to supervise

Focuses on the absence of resources or methods for supervision.

were prevented from watching

Suggests an external obstruction hindering observation.

failed to keep track of

Emphasizes a failure in maintaining awareness or a record.

were not equipped to survey

Highlights a lack of necessary tools or skills for surveying.

couldn't keep an eye on

Uses a more informal idiom to convey the inability to watch closely.

FAQs

What does "were not able to monitor" mean?

The phrase "were not able to monitor" indicates an inability or lack of opportunity to observe, track, or supervise something. It suggests that observation or tracking was intended but not feasible.

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

You can use "were not able to monitor" to describe situations where observation or supervision was impossible. For example, "Due to budget cuts, they "could not monitor" the project effectively."

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

Alternatives include "could not monitor", "were unable to track", or "were incapable of monitoring". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is "were not able to monitor" formal or informal?

"Were not able to monitor" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in very formal writing, consider alternatives like "were incapable of monitoring" for a slightly more elevated tone.