Learn English – Is ‘amenable’ the right word here

word-choice

Problems in complex adaptive systems are neither mathematically
tractable nor are they [amenable?] to statistical techniques.

I don't think 'amenable' is correct here. What would be a proper word to use instead?

Best Answer

A problem being "amenable to solution via (some particular approach)" is a well-established academic idiom... a bit pedantic, but correct. Since this seems to be from an academic paper, I would have to say that the word is fine as it stands.

But since we are being pedantic, I do agree that either "are they" should be removed, or "neither" should be changed to "not".