beyond our capabilities

USAGE SUMMARY

"beyond our capabilities" is a correct and usable expression in written English.
It can be used when one is trying to express that a certain task or action is too difficult for them or someone else to complete or do. For example: "This project requires a lot of hard work and is beyond our capabilities."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

Cabell advises that the suggestion is "beyond our capabilities" but not, apparently, beyond our consideration.

The New Yorker

They are massive, sophisticated, beyond our capabilities," he said.

The Guardian

But to find Putin's accounts, that's beyond our capabilities".

The Guardian

YONAS: No, but it's not beyond our capabilities.

MIT Technology Review

But this journey is well beyond our capabilities.

Harvard University

It is not beyond our capabilities to aid these men in bringing down a despicable regime.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

Longer term is going to get interesting once artificial intelligence gets way beyond our capability, then things are going to get messy potentially.

The Guardian

S.P.: There are no efforts, because it's beyond our capability right now to boom it off or something like that.

Science Magazine

They would protect us from what we were told to fear and what was beyond our capability to understand.

Huffington Post

I'm smeared as a filthy "Commie" or socialist because I believe in government as a force for good, and the obligation we all have to help those less fortunate - with our tax dollars if it's beyond our capability as individuals and the need is that great.

Huffington Post

Thus, we believe that the reduction in the number of CTD repeats (from 30 to 12) may have reduced phospho-Ser-2 levels beyond our capability of detection.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase, provide context to explain why something is "beyond our capabilities." This adds clarity and can help identify potential solutions or alternative approaches.

Common error

Avoid using "beyond our capabilities" as a blanket statement to dismiss challenges without proper assessment. Instead, explore potential solutions or seek external expertise before declaring a task impossible.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "beyond our capabilities" functions as a predicate adjective phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to indicate a limitation in ability, resources, or feasibility. Ludwig examples demonstrate its use in contexts where an entity acknowledges its inability to perform a specific action.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

28%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "beyond our capabilities" effectively conveys that a task or goal exceeds current limitations in skills, resources, or feasibility. According to Ludwig, this grammatically correct expression is commonly used across various contexts, including News & Media, Science and Academia. When using this phrase, it is important to provide context and avoid overgeneralizations. Alternatives like "outside our skillset" or "not within our power" can provide more nuanced meanings. Use "beyond our capabilities" to clearly communicate limitations and manage expectations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

beyond our capacity

Focuses on limitations in available resources or volume.

not within our power

Emphasizes a lack of control or ability to influence a situation.

outside our skillset

Focuses specifically on the absence of necessary skills.

more than we can handle

Highlights being overwhelmed by a situation or task.

exceeding our grasp

Highlights the ambition or difficulty of a task.

not feasible for us

Indicates that something is impractical or unachievable given current circumstances.

unattainable by us

Stresses the impossibility of achieving a goal.

not within our means

Focuses on a lack of financial resources.

out of our reach

Suggests a lack of access or resources.

not up to us

Implies a lack of responsibility or authorization.

FAQs

What does "beyond our capabilities" mean?

It means that a task, project, or goal is not achievable with the current skills, resources, or technology available. It signifies a limitation that prevents successful completion.

How to use "beyond our capabilities" in a sentence?

You can say something like, "Developing that technology is currently "beyond our capabilities"," or "The scale of the disaster response is "beyond our capabilities"."

What are some alternative phrases to "beyond our capabilities"?

Alternatives include "outside our skillset", "not within our power", or "not feasible for us" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "beyond our capability" or "beyond our capabilities"?

"Beyond our capabilities" is generally preferred, especially when referring to a range of skills or resources. "Beyond our capability" ("beyond our capability") is also correct, but it suggests a more singular limitation.