has limited efficacy

USAGE SUMMARY

"has limited efficacy" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe something, such as a procedure, that fails to produce a desired result in certain situations. For example, "While the new medical treatment has had considerable success, it still has limited efficacy in treating certain types of illnesses."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

47 human-written examples

If this is not the Commander in Chief's most commanding moment, it may be because he knows that the testing regimen, at least as it currently is implemented, has limited efficacy for students when it comes to helping them, uh, learn.

The New Yorker

Monotherapy with nortriptyline has limited efficacy.

International Journal of Bipolar Disorders

However, RFA has limited efficacy and is quite expensive.

European Journal of Surgical Oncology (EJSO)

Artemisinin, a potential antileishmanial compound with poor bioavailability and stability has limited efficacy in visceral leishmaniasis.

Journal of Colloid and Interface Science

Unfortunately, BCG has limited efficacy against the adult, pulmonary form of tuberculosis.

Vaccine

Medical treatment of non-atypical endometrial hyperplasia with oral progestogens has limited efficacy and poor compliance.

European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

13 human-written examples

Pharmacological agents include a limited choice like citrate and thiazide diuretics, which have limited efficacy in addition to their less tolerability [ 10, 11].

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Some of the new cancer drugs hold immense promise, but others have limited efficacy and are exorbitant.Nevertheless, a rational debate is elusive.

The Economist

But it had limited efficacy against dengue 2, one of four dengue virus serotypes in circulation.

Science Magazine

Historically, autotaxin inhibitors had poor bioavailability profiles and thus had limited efficacy in vivo.

FEBS Letters

Currently available treatments for autoimmune diseases, such as steroid and nonsteroid immunosuppressive medicines, have limited efficacy.

Journal of Autoimmunity

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing medical treatments or interventions, use "has limited efficacy" to accurately convey that the treatment's effectiveness is not absolute and may not work for all patients or situations. This promotes realistic expectations and informs decision-making.

Common error

Avoid using "has limited efficacy" when the treatment is completely ineffective. The phrase implies some level of positive effect, even if small. If there's no demonstrable benefit, use stronger terms like "ineffective" or "useless."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has limited efficacy" functions as a descriptor, primarily acting as an adjective phrase that modifies a noun (often a treatment, drug, or method). It indicates a qualified or restricted level of effectiveness. As Ludwig AI suggests, it describes something that fails to produce a desired result in certain situations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

88%

News & Media

7%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has limited efficacy" is a commonly used and grammatically correct phrase that conveys a nuanced assessment of something's effectiveness, indicating it is not entirely successful but not entirely without merit. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in describing treatments or procedures that don't always produce the desired outcome. Predominantly found in formal and scientific contexts, the phrase is essential for accurately communicating the performance of interventions in medicine and research. When a more informal tone is more appropriate consider alternatives like "has limited effectiveness" or "has modest efficacy".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has limited effectiveness

This alternative directly replaces "efficacy" with "effectiveness", maintaining the same meaning but offering a slight variation in word choice.

has limited potency

Swaps "efficacy" for "potency," suggesting a reduced strength or capacity to produce a desired effect.

has limited impact

Replaces "efficacy" with "impact," focusing on the restricted influence or effect of something.

has limited usefulness

Substitutes "efficacy" with "usefulness", highlighting the restricted practical value or utility.

has limited efficiency

Uses "efficiency" instead of "efficacy", emphasizing the restricted ability to avoid wasting materials, energy, efforts, money, and time in doing something or in producing a desired result.

has modest efficacy

Replaces "limited" with "modest," softening the statement while still indicating a less-than-ideal level of effectiveness.

offers only marginal benefit

This alternative shifts the focus to the benefit provided, describing it as "marginal", which implies it is small or insignificant.

is of questionable value

This phrase suggests that the value or worth of something is uncertain or doubtful, implying a limited positive effect.

is not particularly effective

This option offers a more descriptive assessment of the effectiveness, stating that it is not "particularly" effective.

fails to provide a substantial benefit

This longer phrase emphasizes the lack of a significant positive outcome, highlighting the inadequacy of the benefit.

FAQs

What does "has limited efficacy" mean?

The phrase "has limited efficacy" means that something, such as a treatment or intervention, is not very effective or does not work well in all situations. It implies that the treatment may provide some benefit, but its overall impact is restricted.

What are some alternatives to "has limited efficacy"?

You can use alternatives like "has limited effectiveness", "has limited impact", or "has modest efficacy" depending on the context.

How do I use "has limited efficacy" in a sentence?

You can use "has limited efficacy" to describe a treatment or intervention that does not work well or is not very effective. For example: "The drug has limited efficacy in treating this particular type of cancer."

Is "has limited efficacy" formal or informal?

The phrase "has limited efficacy" is generally considered formal and is often used in academic, scientific, and professional contexts. In informal settings, you might use phrases like "doesn't work very well" or "isn't very effective."