but limited

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "but limited" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a restriction or constraint in a statement or idea that precedes it. Example: "The resources available for the project are abundant, but limited in scope."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Kustow thinks online tests are useful, but limited.

The Guardian

He freed a sixth, but limited his ability to communicate.

The New York Times

He fielded grounders but limited his lateral movement.

The New York Times - Sports

Reason is reliable, but limited.

SEP

As it turns out, the effect was instant, but limited.

BBC

Deformation processing enhanced the strength of the alloy, but limited its work hardenability.

Acta Materialia

This method is robust to some digital manipulation, but limited in the case of rotation.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

Microalgae are promising for biofuel production to replace petroleum, but limited by high production cost.

Bioresources and Bioprocessing

It is robust for an arbitrary degree of rotation, but limited in discrimination.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

In [9], wideband measurements over the full W-band are performed but limited to short distances.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

This method is robust to scaling, and transition attacks, but limited to large angle rotation.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "but limited", ensure that the contrast between the initial statement and the limitation is clear to the reader. For example, "The initial investment is low, but limited funding prevents further expansion."

Common error

Avoid using "but limited" when the limitation completely negates the initial statement. Instead, consider a more direct phrasing. For example, instead of saying "The tool is useful, but limited in application", if the application is severely restricted, a more honest statement is "The tool has very few applications."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "but limited" functions as a conjunction phrase that introduces a qualification or restriction to a preceding statement. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. The conjunction "but" signals a contrast, while "limited" specifies the nature of that contrast.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

41%

News & Media

41%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "but limited" is a grammatically sound and very common construction used to introduce a qualification or restriction. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's appropriate in a wide range of contexts, particularly in science and news media, and offers a way to provide a more nuanced understanding. When using this phrase, ensure that the contrast is clear and avoid overstating the limitation. Alternatives like "yet constrained" or "however restricted" can be used depending on the desired emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

yet constrained

Replaces "but" with "yet" and "limited" with "constrained", implying a restriction.

however restricted

Uses "however" to introduce the restriction, and "restricted" instead of "limited".

though finite

Emphasizes the boundary or end using "finite" in place of "limited".

albeit meager

Uses "albeit" to concede the point, and "meager" to denote scarcity.

still scarce

Implies rarity rather than a strict limit using "scarce".

although narrow

Focuses on the scope of the limitation, expressed as "narrow".

while constraining

Emphasizes the ongoing restrictive effect using "constraining".

but only

Uses "only" to define the extent of something.

but constrains

Changes to a verb form to emphasize the act of limiting.

though modest

Replaces "limited" with "modest", suggesting a smaller scale or degree.

FAQs

How can I use "but limited" in a sentence?

Use "but limited" to introduce a restriction or qualification to a preceding statement. For instance, "The data is comprehensive, "but limited" to the last decade."

What are some alternatives to "but limited"?

Alternatives include "yet constrained", "however restricted", or "although narrow" depending on the specific context.

Is it redundant to say "but limited"?

While "but" often implies a limitation, using "but limited" can provide emphasis and clarity, especially when the limitation might not be immediately obvious.

In what contexts is "but limited" most appropriate?

"But limited" is suitable across various registers, from formal writing to casual conversation, whenever you need to express a contrast and specify a restriction. Its appropriateness mainly depends on the surrounding sentences.