able to incur

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "able to incur" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the capacity or capability to take on or accumulate something, often in a financial or legal context. Example: "The company is able to incur additional debt to finance its expansion plans."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Tamanaha does not spare the internal practices of law schools and is particularly distressed about the amount of debt incurred by those least able to get out from under it — graduates of lower-ranked schools.

The New York Times

Ms. McGuire said that while the tenant probably cannot get a reimbursement in Housing Court for the increased electrical costs she has incurred, she might be able to get a reimbursement by filing a small-claims action in civil court if the tenant considers the additional amount she is paying enough to warrant filing such an action.

The New York Times

A spokesman said this was largely the result of delays to the projects, incurred when contractors were not able to get their workers on site or facilitate deliveries.

The New York Times

In addition, some patients are able to receive governmental financial waivers for their CKD treatment so they are not fully responsible for the charges incurred.

BMC Nephrology

He was able to get the closing time extended to 1 a.m., but, he said, that still prevented him from paying off the $15,000 debt he had incurred in starting the business.

The New York Times

From the filing, "If we fail to continue to grow our revenue and overall business and to manage our expenses, we may continue to incur significant losses in the future and not be able to achieve or maintain profitability".

TechCrunch

Caregivers of children are likely to incur recurrent costs if the first referral centre is not able to handle complicated cases.

BMC Health Services Research

"Then when they sell their house, they'll be able to pay off the second mortgage, leaving them with the 80percentt first mortgage and without having to incur any private mortgage insurance".

The New York Times

We have tested this method experimentally using micromachined silicon suspensions under applied shock loads of up to 15,000g, and found that these were able to survive without incurring damage.

Advances in Space Research

"But since last month when we received the Insurance Commissioner's ruling shutting us down, we have gotten absolutely no official communication from the state of Utah saying that Zenefits is able to operate without incurring massive penalties.

TechCrunch

From the end of this year, companies are unlikely to be able to grant options without incurring any accounting charge.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "able to incur", ensure the context clearly specifies what is being incurred (e.g., costs, debts, penalties) to avoid ambiguity. For example, be explicit like: "The project is able to incur additional costs".

Common error

Avoid using "able to incur" without clarifying the limits or potential consequences of what's being incurred. Saying "The company is able to incur expenses" is less helpful than specifying, "The company is able to incur up to $10,000 in marketing expenses without board approval."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "able to incur" functions as a verb phrase, indicating the capacity or capability to experience or take on something, such as a cost, debt, or responsibility. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct. The phrase is used to describe scenarios where entities or individuals have the means or authorization to take on certain obligations.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "able to incur" is a grammatically correct verb phrase used to express the capacity or possibility of taking on something, usually a cost or responsibility. Ludwig AI validates the phrase. While its register leans towards neutral and professional, its actual occurrence frequency is somewhat rare. For clearer communication, specify what is being incurred and any limitations involved. Alternatives include "capable of incurring" or "in a position to incur", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Being mindful of these factors will enable more precise and effective writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

capable of incurring

Replaces "able" with its synonym "capable", emphasizing the inherent ability or capacity to incur something.

have the capacity to incur

Emphasizes the inherent potential or power to incur something.

in a position to incur

Highlights the situational readiness or circumstances that allow incurring something.

can potentially incur

Introduces the element of possibility or potential when incurring something.

likely to incur

Shifts the focus to the probability of incurring something, rather than just the ability.

prone to incurring

Suggests a tendency or predisposition towards incurring something, often undesirable.

incurrence is feasible

Focuses on the feasibility or practicability of incurring something.

may be subject to incurring

Highlights that the event of incurrence is conditioned to a scenario that triggers it.

open to incurring

Suggests that one is receptive or vulnerable to incurring something.

empowered to incur

Emphasizes authority or authorization when incurring something, more related to permissions.

FAQs

What does "able to incur" mean?

The phrase "able to incur" means having the capacity or capability to take on or accumulate something, typically referring to expenses, debts, or liabilities.

How can I use "able to incur" in a sentence?

You can use "able to incur" to describe a situation where an entity has the means or permission to take on a cost or responsibility. For example, "The department is "authorized to spend" up to $5000."

What are some alternatives to "able to incur"?

Alternatives include "capable of incurring", "likely to incur", or "in a position to incur", depending on the nuance you want to convey. Other less accurate yet similar options are "willing to pay" or "prepared to assume".

Is there a difference between "able to incur" and "likely to incur"?

"Able to incur" suggests the capacity or permission to take on something, while "likely to incur" suggests a higher probability or expectation of taking it on.