Can your science prevent all that vs Prohibit

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Can your science prevent all that

Beyond 10,000 (less common)

Prohibit

FormalTop 5,000 (fairly common)B2verb
Most formal: ProhibitMost common: Prohibit
 Can your science prevent all thatProhibit
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //kæn jʊər ˈsaɪəns prɪˈvɛnt ɔːl ðæt//🇺🇸 //kæn jʊr ˈsaɪəns prɪˈvɛnt ɔl ðæt//🇬🇧 //prəˈhɪbɪt//🇺🇸 //prəˈhɪbɪt//
MeaningCan your science stop everything bad from happening?To not allow something.
ExampleCan your science prevent all that chaos during a natural disaster?The law will prohibit the use of mobile phones while driving.
RegisterNeutralFormal
How commonBeyond 10,000 (less common)Top 5,000 (fairly common)
CEFR level-B2
Part of speechverb
Collocationsprevent disasters, prevent problems, science and technologyprohibit access, prohibit use, prohibit behavior
Antonyms-allow, permit, enable
Common mistakesUsing 'can' with past tenses incorrectly, Confusing 'prevent' with 'stop' in terms of certainty, Misunderstanding the nuance of what science can or can't doConfused with 'ban' - 'prohibit' is often used in formal settings., Using 'prohibit' with an infinitive instead of a gerund (e.g. 'prohibit smoking' not 'prohibit to smoke').
Usage notesUsed to question the effectiveness of science. Appropriate in discussions about scientific limitations, especially in casual conversations.Use 'prohibit' in formal contexts such as laws or regulations. It is often more severe than 'forbid'.

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Can your science prevent all that
Prohibit

Frequently asked questions: Can your science prevent all that vs Prohibit

What's the difference between Can your science prevent all that and Prohibit?

Can your science prevent all that: Can your science stop everything bad from happening? Prohibit: To not allow something.

Which is more formal: Can your science prevent all that and Prohibit?

Prohibit is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Can your science prevent all that and Prohibit?

Prohibit is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Can your science prevent all that: Can your science prevent all that chaos during a natural disaster? Prohibit: The law will prohibit the use of mobile phones while driving.

Can I use Can your science prevent all that and Prohibit interchangeably?

Not always. Can your science prevent all that and Prohibit are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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