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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
capable to improve
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "capable to improve" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct expression would be "capable of improving." Example: "The new software is capable of improving our workflow efficiency significantly."
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
Science
News & Media
Alternative expressions(1)
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
12 human-written examples
These results (Fig. 3a) suggest that an automatized measure (dlPFC-PL FCd) obtained by a single non-invasive 15-min fMRI is capable to improve patient stratification86.
Science & Research
The Results of this research show that adding the different percentages of Nano materials is capable to improve the mechanical behaviour of stone mastic asphalt, significantly.
The results demonstrate that the optimized TWB tubes are capable to improve energy absorption as well as enhance the reliability, potentially being an ideal structure for crashworthiness.
Science
Although an improvement of 32% of EA and 0.9% of SEA were obtained for the lateral bending, still the design using aluminum honeycomb as filling was remarkably capable to improve the mechanical characteristics of CFRP tube structure.
The awareness of increasing constraints on the availability of resources as well as the increasing demand for access to welfare and wellbeing by developing countries and social groups make it evident the need for new economic models capable to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of resource use.
In these two figures is possible to see an interesting characteristics of (1~%) supervision, some samples are capable to improve the accuracy in more than (5~%), as the base in black in Fig. 8a and in blue in Fig. 8b.
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
48 human-written examples
This literature surveys Internet of Things oriented architectures that are capable enough to improve the understanding of related tool, technology, and methodology to facilitate developer's requirements.
But our economic growth will depend on using these increasingly capable technologies to improve our productivity to the point where workers can focus on the creative, value-add business issues that only humans can solve.
News & Media
The results demonstrate that the optimized foam-filled bitubal tapered columns are capable to considerably improve capacity of energy absorption with an increased reliability, potentially being a structural configuration for energy absorber.
Science
Various physical and chemical methods have been used, whereas advanced solid-state NMR techniques have not been applied yet, despite they are potentially capable to significantly improve the knowledge on black carbon (BC) and kerogen carbon (KC).
Indeed myocardial involvement in HIV infection has been variously attributed to several causes, including viral, toxic, nutritional and autoimmune, but no specific treatment capable to substantially improve patients' prognosis has been recognized so far.
Science
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When describing something's ability to improve, consider the specific nuance you want to convey. "Able to enhance" is more straightforward, while "equipped to enhance" focuses on available resources.
Common error
Avoid using "capable to improve". The correct form is "capable of improving". Remember that 'capable' requires the preposition 'of' when followed by a verb, and the verb should be in its gerund form (-ing).
Source & Trust
81%
Authority and reliability
3.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "capable to improve" functions as an adjective phrase intended to describe something that possesses the ability to make something better. However, according to Ludwig, this is a grammatically incorrect construction.
Frequent in
Science
70%
News & Media
18%
Academia
12%
Less common in
Formal & Business
0%
Encyclopedias
0%
Wiki
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, while the phrase "capable to improve" is used to express the potential for enhancement, Ludwig highlights that it is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "capable of improving". Despite its prevalence in some scientific and news sources, it's essential to use the accurate grammatical structure, especially in formal writing, and to select semantically similar alternatives like "able to enhance" or "equipped to enhance" to ensure clarity and credibility.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
capable of improving
Uses the correct grammatical structure with the preposition 'of' followed by a gerund.
able to enhance
Replaces 'capable' with 'able' and 'improve' with 'enhance', offering a more straightforward alternative.
competent in enhancing
Substitutes 'capable' with 'competent', emphasizing skill and proficiency.
equipped to enhance
Highlights the resources or qualities that enable improvement.
has the potential to improve
Emphasizes the possibility of improvement rather than a guaranteed ability.
in a position to enhance
Focuses on the favorable circumstances that allow for improvement.
suited to improve
Suggests that something is particularly well-matched or designed for improvement.
designed for improvement
Highlights the intentional creation or planning for the purpose of improving.
effective at improving
Focuses on the efficiency and positive results of the improvement process.
optimized for enhancement
Emphasizes the refinement and fine-tuning to maximize improvement.
FAQs
How do I correctly use "capable" in a sentence?
When "capable" is followed by a verb, it should be followed by the preposition 'of' and the gerund form of the verb (e.g., "capable of improving").
What's a grammatically correct alternative to "capable to improve"?
The correct form is "capable of improving". Other alternatives include "able to enhance" or "equipped to enhance".
Is there a difference between "capable of improving" and "able to improve"?
While both convey the ability to enhance something, "capable of improving" suggests a general potential, while "able to improve" implies a more direct and immediate ability.
Can I use "capable to improve" in formal writing?
No, "capable to improve" is grammatically incorrect. In formal writing, always use "capable of improving" or a similar, grammatically sound alternative.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
81%
Authority and reliability
3.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested