barely capable

USAGE SUMMARY

"barely capable" is a grammatically correct and widely used phrase in written English.
It means having only a small amount of ability or skill, just enough to complete a task or achieve a certain goal. Example: The new employee is barely capable of handling complex tasks, we may need to provide additional training for them to improve their skills.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

But Brian was barely capable of leading himself, never mind a factionalised family business.

The Guardian

He looked barely capable of making the weekend cut as his head and heart were clearly scrambled.

Independent

Jepsen is, so far, incapable of bitterness she is barely capable of distance, even when she's looking for an out.

The New Yorker

However, he was having difficulty keeping control, and was drinking so heavily that often he was barely capable of performing.

The Guardian - Music

"The sound was in our heads," Morris says, "but the machines were barely capable of doing it.

The Guardian - Music

Otilia's best friend, Gabita, is pregnant and barely capable of facing the brute reality of her circumstances.

The New York Times

Jepsen is, so far, incapable of bitterness — she is barely capable of distance, even when she's looking for an out.

The New Yorker

One routine casts all women as Mary Shelley, and their husbands as the barely capable Frankenstein's monsters they have created.

The Guardian

Doug Springsteen was a deeply troubled, withdrawn, and depressed man, someone who was barely capable of holding a job or a conversation.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

Some clubs arrive in the Premier League barely able to survive, others arrive capable of holding their own.

The Times

This desperate news for Trotters fans comes just a few days after the club got demolished by their nearest rivals Wigan in what locals refer to as t'classico, leaving them eight from safety at the bottom of the Championship with a team that barely looks capable or bothered enough to compete in the tier below.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "barely capable", ensure the context clearly indicates the specific area of limited ability. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "barely capable" when the subject is completely incapable. "Barely capable" implies some level of functionality, however minimal.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barely capable" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a limited or minimal level of ability or competence. Ludwig examples show its descriptive use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Science

15%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

2%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "barely capable" is a commonly used adjective phrase that signifies a minimal level of ability or competence. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct. It appears most frequently in News & Media sources, but also finds usage in Science and general contexts like Wiki. When using this phrase, ensure that the context clarifies the specific area where ability is limited. Related phrases include "hardly able" and "scarcely competent". Avoid using "barely capable" when describing something that is completely incapable. The linguistic analysis reveals a neutral register and a descriptive function, used to express a qualified assessment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hardly able

Replaces "barely" with "hardly", emphasizing a minimal level of capability.

scarcely competent

Substitutes "capable" with "competent" and "barely" with "scarcely", implying a lack of adequate skill.

minimally proficient

Uses "proficient" instead of "capable", suggesting a basic level of skill rather than a general ability.

just able to

Rephrases the concept to focus on the ability to perform an action, albeit with difficulty.

almost unable

Shifts the perspective to the negative, highlighting the nearness to being incapable.

marginally qualified

Emphasizes the qualification aspect, suggesting a qualification that is only just sufficient.

barely adequate

Focuses on adequacy rather than capability, indicating a situation that is only just acceptable.

nearly incompetent

Highlights the proximity to incompetence, emphasizing the lack of skill.

ill-equipped

Indicates a lack of necessary resources or skills, suggesting a deficiency in preparedness.

inadequately skilled

Focuses specifically on the deficiency of skills, rather than general capability.

FAQs

How can I use "barely capable" in a sentence?

You can use "barely capable" to describe someone or something that has a minimal level of ability or competence. For example: "The old computer is "barely capable" of running modern software."

What phrases are similar to "barely capable"?

Similar phrases include "hardly able", "scarcely competent", or "minimally proficient", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "barely capable to" instead of "barely capable of"?

No, the correct phrasing is "barely capable of". The preposition "of" is necessary to link the adjective phrase to the action or quality being described.

What's the difference between "barely capable" and "incapable"?

"Barely capable" suggests a minimal level of ability, while "incapable" implies a complete lack of ability. Something that is "barely capable" can still function to some degree, whereas something "incapable" cannot function at all.