capacity to help

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "capacity to help" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing someone's ability or potential to provide assistance or support in a particular situation. Example: "The organization has the capacity to help those in need during times of crisis."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"He has the quality and capacity to help us out.

Independent

In the movie, the followers are lepers, and Jesus is doubting his capacity to help them.

The New York Times - Arts

"The conflict produces more victims faster than our collective capacity to help," said Georgieva.

The Guardian

"I'll do everything in my capacity to help you," I say.

The Guardian - Opinion

We don't want an overbearing state that depletes our capacity to help ourselves.

The Guardian - Opinion

Hoban said the extra firms will also help provide extra capacity to help tackle waiting times.

The Guardian

Kayani said that the provincial government lacks the capacity to help the IDPs.

The Guardian

Real term cuts to council budgets in the coming years will reduce still further their capacity to help the homeless.

The Guardian

The digital revolution, applied to medicine, has the capacity to help save tens of thousands every year.

The Guardian

A quick glance at your computer screen tells you that you have sufficient spare capacity to help.

The New York Times

The City of London, as the pre-eminent global financial hub, has the capacity to help make that happen.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "capacity to help", ensure it's followed by a clear description of what specific actions or resources are available. For example, "The organization has the capacity to help with financial aid and counseling services."

Common error

Avoid using "capacity to help" without specifying the limits or realistic boundaries. Saying an organization has the "capacity to help everyone" is often an unrealistic overstatement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "capacity to help" functions as a noun phrase acting as a subject complement or object, describing the extent of available resources or skills to provide assistance. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is correct and usable. For example, "They have the capacity to help and it is very much in their self-interest to do so."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "capacity to help" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that describes the ability or potential to provide assistance. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness and wide applicability. It appears most commonly in news and media, but also finds use in scientific and formal business contexts. When employing this phrase, it's best practice to clearly specify the nature and extent of the help being offered to avoid vagueness or overstatement. Related alternatives include phrases like "ability to assist" or "potential to support", offering nuanced ways to express the same core concept.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ability to assist

Replaces "capacity" with "ability", focusing on the inherent power to assist.

capability to aid

Substitutes "capacity" with "capability" and "help" with "aid", emphasizing the potential for assistance.

potential to support

Replaces "capacity" with "potential" and "help" with "support", highlighting the possibility of providing backing.

resources to assist

Focuses on the availability of resources as a means to provide help.

means to support

Emphasizes the availability of means or methods to provide support.

wherewithal to aid

Uses "wherewithal" to denote the necessary resources or means to provide aid.

preparedness to assist

Highlights the state of being ready to provide assistance.

scope for assisting

Indicates the extent or range within which assistance can be provided.

room to support

Suggests available space or opportunity to offer support.

facility to help

Replaces "capacity" with "facility", indicating an ease or readiness to help.

FAQs

How can I use "capacity to help" in a sentence?

You can use "capacity to help" to describe an individual's or organization's ability to provide assistance. For example, "The program increased the hospital's "capacity to help" more patients."

What are some alternatives to "capacity to help"?

Some alternatives include "ability to assist", "potential to support", or "resources to assist", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to use "ability to help" or "capacity to help"?

"Ability to help" and "capacity to help" are often interchangeable. "Ability" emphasizes the inherent skill, while "capacity" highlights the available resources or potential. The best choice depends on the nuances you want to convey.

What does "limited capacity to help" mean?

"Limited capacity to help" suggests that there are constraints on the ability to provide assistance, either due to a lack of resources, personnel, or other factors. It indicates that help can only be provided to a certain extent.