be unable to capture

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be unable to capture" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a situation where something cannot be recorded, understood, or represented. Example: "The camera was unable to capture the beauty of the sunset due to the low light conditions."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

Lateral force method and pushover analyses using traditional force profiles were shown to be unable to capture the seismic behavior of the chimney.

Engineering Structures

The consensus among attendees was that without effective customer engagement, utilities will be unable to capture the full value of smart homes.

Yale University

Without privacy, they argued, financial entrepreneurs would be unable to capture the full value of their trading strategies and other ingenious intellectual property.

The Economist

Data entry is typically performed by physician surrogates who are variably involved in patient care and might be unable to capture key elements of patient care known only to the operating surgeon.

Journal of the American College of Surgeons

Without becoming both more conservative over things such as gay marriage, and more left-leaning over things such as nuclear weapons or welfare cuts, Mr Cameron will be unable to capture much more of the Christian vote.But perhaps the bigger problem for him is that his traditional voting base of middle-class Anglicans is declining.

The Economist

Such interesting findings appear to be unable to capture the asymmetry of volatility reaction to external shocks.

Health Economics Review

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

That being said, online inflation indices have some weaknesses as online prices are unable to capture changes in the price of services, one component of CPI.

Huffington Post

Given the singular response of the CIBSE approach, it is unable to capture these conditions.

Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics

Traditional paper-based data collection methods are unable to capture clinical work complexity and communication patterns.

International Journal of Medical Informatics

There are other ways these companies obtain data that comScore was unable to capture.

The New York Times

In practice, however, mutual funds have been unable to capture that performance.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "be unable to capture", ensure that the subject clearly indicates what is lacking the ability, and the object specifies what cannot be obtained or recorded.

Common error

Avoid using "be unable to capture" when a simpler verb like "understand", "record", or "achieve" would be more appropriate. Overusing "capture" can make your writing sound unnecessarily complex.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be unable to capture" functions as a verb phrase indicating a lack of capacity or capability. It is used to express the inability to record, obtain, or accurately represent something. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

35%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be unable to capture" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote a lack of ability to accurately record, obtain, or represent something. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is suitable for various contexts, especially in scientific, academic, and news-related writing. While generally neutral to formal, writers should avoid overusing "capture" in simpler contexts. Alternatives include "fail to grasp", "cannot acquire", and "not be able to get", depending on the specific nuance intended. The key is to ensure clarity and precision in conveying the limitation or deficiency being described.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cannot acquire

Directly states the inability to gain possession of something.

not be able to get

A more informal way of expressing the inability to obtain.

fail to grasp

Focuses on a lack of understanding rather than a complete inability to capture.

find it impossible to obtain

Highlights the impossibility aspect of acquiring something.

be unsuccessful in securing

Focuses on a lack of success in making something secure.

struggle to attain

Indicates difficulty and effort in attempting to achieve something.

prove incapable of seizing

Emphasizes a demonstrated lack of capacity, often in a forceful or opportunistic context.

lack the capacity to seize

Highlights a fundamental deficiency in the ability to take hold of something.

miss the chance to grab

Emphasizes the loss of an opportunity to seize something.

be deficient in getting

Highlights a lack or shortage in the process of obtaining.

FAQs

What does "be unable to capture" mean?

It means to lack the ability to record, understand, or express something accurately or completely. It suggests a limitation or deficiency in the means or capacity to grasp something fully.

How can I use "be unable to capture" in a sentence?

Use it to describe situations where something cannot be accurately represented or obtained, such as "The old camera "was unable to capture" the vibrant colors of the sunset" or "Current economic models "are unable to capture" the complexity of human behavior".

What can I say instead of "be unable to capture"?

You can use alternatives like "fail to grasp", "cannot acquire", or "not be able to get depending on the context".

Is it better to use "cannot capture" or "be unable to capture"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "cannot capture" is generally more concise and direct. "Be unable to capture" may be preferred in more formal or nuanced contexts where emphasizing the state of inability is desired.