are not positioned to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are not positioned to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone or something lacks the necessary status, resources, or readiness to take a certain action or make a decision. Example: "Due to the current circumstances, we are not positioned to make any significant changes to our policy at this time."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Kellerman acknowledges that most groups and organizations are not positioned to replicate military pedagogy.

Harvard University

Amazon works with four other agencies that are not being considered in the review because, Ms. Roberts said, "they are not positioned to accomplish the objectives we've set out".

The New York Times

Looking at the market as a whole, it may be that shareholders who have more of a say on important deals may be less concerned with legislating individual issues like compensation — where shareholders are not positioned to act.

The New York Times

Unlike the Other of the master-slave dialectic, women are not positioned to rebel.

SEP

Most academic researchers are not positioned to do the scaling-up and risk-taking required to bring a discovery to the next level.

Clinical and Translational Science

Responses of private physiotherapy providers indicate they are not positioned to address such service gaps, particularly when compounded by issues of affordability.

BMC Health Services Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

The coach was told that the camera was not positioned to observe dressing and undressing, the court papers contend.

The New York Times

The Portuguese traded with the Akan at the time only because they were not positioned to take the gold by force.

The Washington Post

When oil prices inevitably fall, the economy is not positioned to survive.

Forbes

This means that Showtime is not positioned to do much with the site except promotion.

Forbes

B&N's losses will continue, and this is quickly becoming a battle B&N is not positioned to win.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "are not positioned to" to clearly express a lack of readiness or capability due to specific circumstances or limitations. For example, "Due to budget constraints, we are not positioned to expand our services this year."

Common error

While "are not positioned to" is grammatically correct, avoid overusing passive constructions. In some cases, an active voice alternative may be more direct and impactful. For example, instead of saying "The company is not positioned to compete," consider saying "The company cannot compete."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are not positioned to" functions as a verb phrase expressing a lack of readiness or capability to perform a specific action or achieve a particular outcome. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "are not positioned to" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression that indicates a lack of readiness, capability, or suitability. Ludwig AI confirms its usage across various domains like science, news, and academia. While generally neutral in tone, it effectively conveys limitations or constraints. For alternative phrasing, consider options like "are not able to" or "lack the capacity to" for different nuances. When writing, avoid overusing passive voice and consider more direct, active voice alternatives where appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are not equipped to

Focuses on the lack of necessary resources or tools.

are not prepared to

Emphasizes a lack of readiness or willingness.

are not able to

A more general expression of inability.

lack the capacity to

Highlights the absence of inherent ability or potential.

are not in a state to

Indicates a temporary condition preventing action.

are unsuited to

Suggests a fundamental mismatch or incompatibility.

cannot

A simple and direct statement of inability.

are not designed to

Focuses on the intended purpose or function.

are incapable of

Emphasizes a fundamental inability or lack of skill.

are ill-equipped to

Highlights the inadequacy of available resources.

FAQs

What does "are not positioned to" mean?

The phrase "are not positioned to" indicates that someone or something lacks the necessary resources, status, or readiness to take a certain action or make a decision. It implies a limitation or inability due to current circumstances.

What can I say instead of "are not positioned to"?

You can use alternatives like "are not able to", "are not equipped to", or "lack the capacity to" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "are not positioned to" or "are unable to"?

Both phrases are correct, but "are not positioned to" often implies specific contextual reasons for the inability, whereas "are unable to" is a more general statement of inability. The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

How to use "are not positioned to" in a sentence?

You can use "are not positioned to" to explain why an entity is unable to perform a certain action, for example: "Given the current market volatility, investors "are not disposed to" take high risks" or "The company "cannot" launch the project because they "are not positioned to" due to lack of funding".