ability to realize

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ability to realize" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing someone's capacity to understand or become aware of something. Example: "Her ability to realize the potential consequences of her actions sets her apart as a leader."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Just my ability to realize some dreams".

The New York Times

Shared Programming Mr. Sloane's ability to realize these notions is not entirely in his hands.

The New York Times

"The city that would give me the ability to realize my dream".

The New Yorker

I have complete confidence in the team's ability to realize its mission," she said.

The New York Times

I have complete confidence in the team's ability to realize its mission".

The New York Times

His works exhibit a fluid touch, rich colour, and great ability to realize textures.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Yet their ability to realize them has played out very differently according to gender.

Harvard Business Review

(In fact, speaking at MOMA in 1994, Godard specifically likened video to music in its ability to realize counterpoint).

The New Yorker

And yet, last week's meeting was oddly inauspicious, feeding doubts about the commission's ability to realize that potential.

The New York Times

New York City's approach and the ability to realize savings are transferrable across state and local government.

Harvard University

Additive manufacturing (AM) is of tremendous interest given its ability to realize complex, non-traditional geometries in engineered structural materials.

Computational Materials Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity, follow "ability to realize" with a specific noun phrase describing what can be achieved or understood. This provides context and prevents ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "ability to realize" in overly passive constructions. Instead of "The project's success depends on the team's ability to realize the goals", opt for a more direct formulation like "The team's realization of the goals will ensure the project's success".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ability to realize" functions as a noun phrase, specifically an infinitive phrase, which acts as the subject or object of a sentence. As Ludwig AI explains, it denotes the capacity or power to bring something into being or to fully understand it.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Academia

25%

Science

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ability to realize" is a versatile phrase used to express the capacity to achieve or understand something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely applicable. It appears most frequently in News & Media, Academic and Science contexts. To improve your writing, use it with specific nouns to enhance clarity and avoid overly passive constructions. Consider using alternatives such as "capacity to achieve" or "potential to understand" for nuanced meaning. By following these guidelines, you can effectively incorporate "ability to realize" into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

capacity to achieve

Replaces "ability" with "capacity", emphasizing the potential to accomplish something.

potential to understand

Shifts the focus to comprehension, using "potential" instead of "ability" and "understand" instead of "realize".

skill to accomplish

Replaces "ability" with "skill", highlighting the learned proficiency to achieve something.

capability to execute

Substitutes "ability" with "capability", focusing on the power to carry out or implement a plan or task.

power to attain

Emphasizes the strength or authority to reach or gain something, replacing "ability" with "power" and "realize" with "attain".

aptitude to grasp

Focuses on the natural talent or quickness in learning or understanding, using "aptitude" instead of "ability" and "grasp" instead of "realize".

facility to implement

Highlights the ease or smoothness with which something can be put into effect, replacing "ability" with "facility" and "realize" with "implement".

opportunity to achieve

Shifts the focus from inherent capability to the availability of chances to accomplish something.

chance to understand

Highlights the opportunity to gain knowledge or comprehension, using "chance" instead of "ability" and "understand" instead of "realize".

scope to fulfill

Emphasizes the range or extent within which something can be brought to completion, replacing "ability" with "scope" and "realize" with "fulfill".

FAQs

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

You can use "ability to realize" to describe someone's capacity to understand something or to make something happen. For example, "Her "ability to realize the potential" of the project made her an invaluable asset".

What are some alternatives to "ability to realize"?

Depending on the context, alternatives include "capacity to achieve", "potential to understand", or "skill to accomplish".

Is "ability to realize" formal or informal?

"Ability to realize" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though more formal alternatives like "capability to execute" might be preferred in certain professional settings.

What's the difference between "ability to realize" and "opportunity to realize"?

"Ability to realize" refers to an inherent or developed skill, while "opportunity to achieve" refers to the availability of chances or circumstances that allow something to be accomplished.