functionally ineffective

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "functionally ineffective" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that does not work as intended or fails to achieve its purpose in a practical sense. Example: "The new software update was functionally ineffective, leading to more issues than it resolved."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"The challenge is to encourage good governance and best practices," Senator Grassley said in a statement, "and so preserve confidence in the tax-exempt sector without imposing regulations that inhibit religious freedom or are functionally ineffective".

The New York Times

Interestingly, neutralization of IL-17A did not significantly change pulmonary pneumococcal burdens in WT mice (supplementary Fig 8C), indicating that IL-17A was produced at a functionally ineffective level in WT mice during secondary pneumococcal pneumonia.

EMBO Molecular Medicine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Some of the institutions established for this purpose in Africa have remained functionally weak and ineffective.

Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A-B-C

However, both regimens were ineffective on the functionally coupled flow responses and destruction markers were similar between groups.

Critical Care

The T cells responding to the F1A5 peptide express higher-affinity T cell receptors that functionally recognize the AH1 TAA better than the T cells responding to the ineffective peptide, WMF.

Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy

Surprisingly, these functionally deficient T cells produced IFNγ after stimulation with the variant peptide used in the vaccine, suggesting that the ineffective peptide variants were not antagonists or partial agonists, as in other systems [ 19].

Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy

9, 10 This was evidence not only that leptin was crossing the BBB in ineffective amounts, but also there existed a phase in which resistance at the BBB (termed peripheral resistance) was functionally dominant to resistance at the receptor/postreceptor level (termed central resistance).

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences

And ineffective?

The New York Times

It is now functionally extinct.

The Guardian

That theology was functionally lost".

The New Yorker

"I'm functionally illiterate.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "functionally ineffective" when you want to emphasize that something doesn't work in practice, even if it seems like it should.

Common error

While "functionally ineffective" is acceptable, avoid overusing it in formal writing. Consider more concise alternatives like "ineffective" or "useless" for a more impactful statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "functionally ineffective" primarily functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to describe something that does not achieve its intended purpose or operate as expected. As Ludwig AI explains, it describes something that does not work as intended or fails to achieve its purpose in a practical sense.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "functionally ineffective" is an adjective phrase used to describe something that fails to achieve its intended purpose in a practical sense. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in English. While grammatically sound, it appears relatively rarely, primarily in news and scientific contexts. Alternatives like "practically useless" or "operationally ineffective" may be considered depending on the specific context. It's important to provide context to specify which function is ineffective when using this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

practically useless

Focuses on the lack of practical value or utility.

operationally ineffective

Emphasizes the failure to achieve intended operational goals.

effectively non-operational

Highlights that something is not working as intended.

in practice, not working

Focuses on the real-world application or outcome.

unfit for purpose

Highlights that something is not suitable or capable of performing its intended role.

nominally functional but failing

Suggests a surface-level functionality that does not translate into effective performance.

technically functional but inadequate

Suggests the item is working, but its quality is too low to achieve its intended purpose.

essentially non-performing

Highlights the negligible level of performance.

for all intents and purposes, useless

Similar to practically useless.

more or less, not effective

A more polite alternative that means 'almost useless'.

FAQs

How can I use "functionally ineffective" in a sentence?

You can use "functionally ineffective" to describe something that does not work as intended in a practical way. For example: "The new policy was "functionally ineffective" because it failed to achieve its objectives".

What are some alternatives to "functionally ineffective"?

Alternatives to "functionally ineffective" include "practically useless", "operationally ineffective", or "unfit for purpose". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it redundant to say something is "functionally ineffective"?

While "ineffective" alone can convey the same meaning, "functionally ineffective" emphasizes that the ineffectiveness is related to practical application rather than theoretical possibility. In some cases, this added emphasis can be useful.

What's the difference between "functionally ineffective" and "inefficient"?

"Functionally ineffective" means something doesn't work as intended, while "inefficient" means it works but wastes resources or time. A process can be inefficient but still functionally effective, and vice versa.