calculated incompetence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "calculated incompetence" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone deliberately pretends to be incompetent for a specific purpose or advantage. Example: "The manager's decision to overlook the team's mistakes seemed like calculated incompetence, aimed at avoiding accountability."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Regulations of the marketplace of goods and services that are not calculated to protect the public from incompetence or fraud but merely to impose the economic preferences of the politically powerful are essentially no different and are equally constitutionally improper.

Huffington Post

"They calculated".

The Guardian - Tech

As calculated.

The Guardian - Music

Calculated risks.

The New York Times - Arts

Nothing's calculated like — calculated.

The New Yorker

The participation rate for the interview was calculated as 60% (833 of 1,382), after exclusion of 118 persons for the following reasons: death (n = 7), migration from the study area (n = 22), undelivered mail (n = 44), mental incompetence (n = 19), history of partial or total removal of the colorectum (n = 21) and diagnosis of colorectal cancer after the survey (n = 5).

BMC Cancer

He gave total incompetence in each activity a score of 1, partial or variable incapacity a score of 0.5, and full capacity a score of 0. He then calculated each patient's 'dementia score' by adding the numbers for each item: the minimum score was 0, indicating fully preserved capacity, and the maximum score was 28, indicating severe incapacity.

History of the Human Sciences

The subtle, pliant, patient, calculating diplomatist, master of timing in politics and war, ended his life in a tale of irresponsible incompetence.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Incompetence or calculating?

Huffington Post

Incompetence is sin, & incompetent deception is unpardonable.

The New Yorker

Incompetence reigns!

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "calculated incompetence" when you want to emphasize that someone's apparent lack of skill is a deliberate strategy to avoid responsibility or manipulate a situation.

Common error

Avoid using "calculated incompetence" simply to describe genuine mistakes. The phrase implies a deliberate intent, so ensure the context supports this interpretation before using it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "calculated incompetence" functions as a noun phrase, where 'calculated' modifies 'incompetence' to indicate a deliberate or strategic nature. It describes a state of feigned or intentional lack of ability.

Expression frequency: Missing

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "calculated incompetence" describes a deliberate lack of skill or ability used strategically. While grammatically correct, its usage requires careful consideration of context to ensure the intended meaning—intentional ineptitude—is accurately conveyed. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is appropriate for analytical contexts where strategic intent is being evaluated. Related phrases include "deliberate ineptitude" and "strategic incompetence", offering alternative ways to express this concept. The key is to distinguish genuine mistakes from intentional actions, avoiding misinterpretation. Overall, understanding the nuances of "calculated incompetence" ensures precise and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deliberate ineptitude

Focuses on the intentional nature of the lack of skill.

intentional unskillfulness

Highlights the planned aspect of being unskilled.

strategic incompetence

Emphasizes that the incompetence is part of a larger strategy.

purposeful inadequacy

Highlights the aim or goal behind the inadequacy.

contrived inability

Focuses on the artificial or fabricated nature of the inability.

feigned incompetence

Highlights the pretense or faking of incompetence.

simulated lack of skill

Focuses on the imitation or simulation of a lack of skill.

artificial deficiency

Highlights the artificiality of the deficiency in skill or ability.

orchestrated failure

Suggests a planned or arranged failure, implying incompetence.

planned clumsiness

Focuses on the deliberate nature of being clumsy or awkward.

FAQs

How can "calculated incompetence" be used in a sentence?

You might say, "The manager's decision to overlook the team's mistakes seemed like "calculated incompetence", aimed at avoiding accountability."

What's a good alternative to "calculated incompetence"?

Alternatives include "deliberate ineptitude", "strategic incompetence", or "feigned incompetence", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "calculated incompetence" a formal or informal phrase?

"Calculated incompetence" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although its relative complexity makes it more suited to analytical or argumentative writing.

When is it appropriate to use the term "calculated incompetence"?

Use "calculated incompetence" when describing situations where someone intentionally acts incompetently to achieve a specific goal, such as avoiding work, manipulating a situation, or evading responsibility. Ensure you have evidence or a strong rationale to support the claim of deliberate intent.