ability to counteract

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ability to counteract" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing someone's capacity to neutralize or mitigate the effects of something, such as a problem or a negative influence. Example: "The medication has the ability to counteract the side effects of the treatment."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

So have concerns over the Greek government's ability to counteract terrorism.

The New York Times - Sports

But if the intensity is cranked up high enough, sound has the ability to counteract the effects of gravity.

The Washington Post

This paper presents 2 studies investigating stereoisomer potencies in terms of their ability to counteract toxicity of the stereoisomer.

Homeopathy

The patient-derived Vif sequences were used to engineer viruses that specifically differed in their ability to counteract A3H.

Cell Host & Microbe

This research has prompted scientists to start developing techniques of climate modification that may have the ability to counteract the effects of a warming planet.

The Guardian - Opinion

What makes design thinking a social technology is its ability to counteract the biases of innovators and change the way they engage in the innovation process.

Harvard Business Review

This enables the transgenic tomato plants to acquire a greater ability to counteract HS-induced oxidative stress, being endowed with more reduced antioxidant pools.

Phytochemistry

Consistently, neurotrophin expression and secretion by various types of stem cells was proposed as an important mechanism for their ability to counteract cognitive and neuropathological symptoms of AD in transgenic models (Chen and Blurton-Jones, 2012).

Nature

Moreover, 17β-estradiol boosted sulforaphane ability to counteract oxidative stress, reducing intracellular reactive oxygen species and 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine levels and increasing the expression of phase II enzymes.

The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry

the ability to counteract the gravitational pull of the Earth.

Forbes

However, its ability to counteract climate change is imperfect and cannot offset all its impacts.

Progress in Earth and Planetary Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing complex systems or processes, use "ability to counteract" to highlight the capacity to neutralize or balance opposing forces within the system.

Common error

Avoid implying absolute negation. "Ability to counteract" suggests a capacity to mitigate or balance, not necessarily eliminate, an effect. Consider using qualifiers like 'partially' or 'effectively' to reflect the degree of counteraction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ability to counteract" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes the inherent capacity or power to neutralize or mitigate an effect. Ludwig AI confirms this usage aligns with its many examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

63%

News & Media

28%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Academia

1%

Wiki

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "ability to counteract" is a grammatically sound and frequently used noun phrase that describes the capacity to neutralize or mitigate an effect. Ludwig AI analysis, backed by 60 real-world examples, shows that it is used prevalently in scientific and news contexts. Related phrases include "capacity to offset", "power to neutralize", and "capability to mitigate". When using "ability to counteract", ensure that you accurately reflect the degree of mitigation, as overstating the certainty of counteraction is a common error. Remember that it suggests a balancing or neutralizing action rather than complete elimination. Therefore, it's a good practice to use qualifiers if necessary. Overall, "ability to counteract" is a versatile and accurate phrase for describing the capacity to oppose or neutralize forces.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

capacity to offset

Replaces "ability" with "capacity" and "counteract" with "offset", implying a balancing effect.

power to neutralize

Substitutes "ability" with "power" and "counteract" with "neutralize", suggesting a complete negation of an effect.

capability to mitigate

Changes "ability" to "capability" and "counteract" to "mitigate", focusing on reducing the severity of something.

potential to negate

Replaces "ability" with "potential" and "counteract" with "negate", indicating a possibility of reversing an effect.

skill at counteracting

Changes "ability" to "skill" and restructures the sentence to highlight proficiency.

aptitude for thwarting

Substitutes "ability" with "aptitude" and "counteract" with "thwarting", suggesting a natural inclination to prevent something.

resources to combat

Focuses on having the necessary "resources" to actively "combat" a problem.

means of opposing

Emphasizes the "means" or methods available to "oppose" something.

capacity for resisting

Highlights the "capacity" to "resist", implying a defensive stance against an effect.

facility in opposing

Emphasizes ease and skill ("facility") in "opposing" something.

FAQs

How can I use "ability to counteract" in a sentence?

You can use "ability to counteract" to describe something's capacity to neutralize an effect, such as, "The body's immune system has the ability to counteract infections."

What are some alternatives to "ability to counteract"?

Alternatives include "capacity to offset", "power to neutralize", or "capability to mitigate", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "ability to counteract" or "ability for counteracting"?

"Ability to counteract" is the standard and more common phrasing. "Ability for counteracting" is grammatically awkward and less frequently used.

What's the difference between "ability to counteract" and "ability to resist"?

"Ability to counteract" implies neutralizing or balancing an existing force or effect, while "ability to resist" suggests preventing something from happening in the first place.